"I didn't realize I would be breaking a lot of barriers... you wake up and go, what am I going to do in this job today?"

Meet Tina Irwin, a 20-year Navy veteran who went from climbing submarine ladders in a pencil skirt to becoming a top-tier security expert .

Highlights of Tina’s Journey:

• Joined in 1972 before ROTC was open to women.
• Became the first female instructor at Navy Submarine School .
• Managed security for 86 submarines and $100B in assets .
• Served through the "Silent Service" during the Cold War .

Full story out now! 👇

#WomenInUniform #NavyHistory #SilentService #VeteranStories #TheUnsungVeteran

Army veteran and Nulu knife inventor Douglas M. Katz joins The Unsung Veteran to discuss the power of veteran unity and the importance of mentorship in the civilian world. Douglas Katz highlights that our strength lies in community and the willingness of experienced veterans to mentor those just starting their post-military careers. His story shows how collective action can safeguard the benefits veterans have earned.

Topics Discussed:

- The importance of veterans from all eras working together.

- Advocating for VA benefits and collective action.

- Transitioning from the Army to becoming a successful inventor.

- Mentorship and the duty to help those coming behind you.

How has a fellow veteran helped you in your transition? Let us know in the comments.

#theunsungveteran #armyveteran #NuluKnife #veteranentrepreneur #vabenefits #VeteranMentorship #militarytransition #veterancommunity #passingthetorch #DouglasKatz #podmatch

Scottie Schneider did everything “right.” He graduated from West Point, served as a mortar platoon officer, and built businesses—but it didn’t stop the collapse.

In this episode, Scottie joins John to discuss the dangerous gap between "looking successful" and actually having a stable life. After a severe injury in the Alaskan wilderness led to a medical retirement, Scottie’s life path shifted from military leadership to a long search for meaning that eventually led him to the jungles of Colombia.

We discuss:

• The Achievement Gap: Why checking the boxes of rank and career doesn't fix your nervous system.
• The Alaskan Incident: Serving in -40 degree weather and the injury that ended his military career.
• Beyond the "Breakthrough": Why chasing peak experiences (ancestral medicines) is useless without daily structure and discipline.
• Ocóyái: Translating Indigenous wisdom into a framework for modern veterans and high-performers.
• Extreme Ownership: Why you cannot "bio-hack" your way out of the responsibility to fix your own life.

“There's no substance or practice on earth that will remove your own responsibility of doing the work... don't do it in isolation.”

SUPPORT OUR GUEST:

• Website: https://ocoyai.com/
• YouTube: @ScottieSchneider
• Follow Scottie: Support his mission to bridge ancient traditions with modern leadership.

CONNECT WITH THE UNSUNG VETERAN: If you are a veteran struggling with transition, isolation, or finding your "next mission," you aren't alone.

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