"7 Years Before I Joined: High School JROTC to Marine Officer" featuring Matt Milburn

"7 Years Before I Joined: High School JROTC to Marine Officer" featuring Matt Milburn

What happens when someone starts learning Marine values seven years before ever putting on the uniform? In this episode, Marine veteran Matt Milburn shares how his journey began in high school Marine Corps JROTC and how those early lessons shaped a 21-year Marine Corps career and his transition into the defense technology industry. Matt discusses his current work supporting U.S. Army and Marine programs in satellite communications and command-and-control systems while continuing his mission of serving warfighters after military service. He also opens up about the realities of transitioning from military life to the civilian workforce after more than two decades in uniform.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest [https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest]  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

"Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army: Doctor Served All Four Branches" featuring Dr. Charles Sasser

What happens when a military aviator serves across nearly every branch of the U.S. military and then reinvents himself as a physician and healthcare entrepreneur? In this episode, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Dr. Charles Sasser to discuss his remarkable journey from the Marine Corps to medicine, and how he is reshaping healthcare through a patient-first practice model. Dr. Sasser shares how his experiences in the military shaped his mindset, leadership style, and belief in perseverance. He talks openly about transitioning from military service into medicine, returning to school after his aviation career, and building an independent healthcare practice that removes insurance from the equation to focus on quality care and stronger patient relationships.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest [https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest]  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

"Philosophy Degree, No Jobs: Marine Pivoted to Software Engineering" featuring Clinton Avery

What happens when a Marine Corps veteran earns a philosophy degree and discovers there aren’t many job openings for philosophers? In this episode, Clinton Avery shares how he transformed uncertainty into opportunity and built a career in software engineering through persistence, learning, and small daily improvements. This conversation is a powerful reminder that career paths are rarely straight lines. Clinton takes listeners through his journey from a young kid fascinated by computers in the library to serving in the Marine Corps, earning a philosophy degree, and eventually pivoting into software engineering after working in the insurance industry.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest [https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest]  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

"My Screws Were Loose After Marines: Now I'm the Therapist" featuring Matt Rensi

What happens when a Marine veteran returns from multiple combat deployments carrying invisible wounds—and later becomes the person helping others heal? In this episode of Adapt and Overcome, Tommy Hardaway sits down with Marine veteran, therapist, researcher, and counselor Matt Rensi to discuss his journey from serving three combat tours in the Middle East to rebuilding his life after PTSD, depression, and personal struggles. Matt shares how therapy changed his life and ultimately inspired him to become a mental health professional serving active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and families. He explains how his own experiences allow him to connect deeply with clients dealing with trauma, PTSD, depression, and life transitions. Matt also opens up about returning to therapy during a difficult season while balancing full-time work, a PhD program, marriage, and raising four young children. His message is clear: healing is ongoing, and asking for help is a sign of strength—not weakness.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest [https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest]  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...

"Venezuela to AWS: Marine Built Software That Serves Billions Monthly" featuring Jose Villalta

What does it take to go from immigrating from Venezuela with very little, serving in the Marine Corps, and helping build software that supports billions of users worldwide? In this episode, Jose Villalta shares his journey of resilience, service, and growth. Jose Villalta is a software engineer with Amazon Web Services (AWS), working with Elastic Container Services (ECS), helping support cloud infrastructure that powers workloads around the globe. During the conversation, Jose explains how his technical background spans hardware, processors, communications systems, embedded software, and cloud technology. He discusses the massive scale involved in AWS systems and the responsibility required when software impacts millions of customers monthly. Jose also opens up about his journey from Venezuela to South Florida, how the Marine Corps helped shape his mindset, and how military service gave him the discipline and confidence to pursue higher education and a career in engineering.   Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest [https://adaptandovercomepodcast.com/guest]  and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...