SE7 #253 Dean Nemecek- Army/Iraq Veteran- Author- Transition Ops Founder
Very informative podcast with my friend Dean Nemecek Dean served our country for 26 years 4 years on active duty and 22 years with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Throughout his career, he held numerous leadership positions and commands, deployed to Iraq in 2005–2006, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Today, Dean is on the front lines of another mission: helping companies build effective veteran hiring programs and connect with exceptional veteran talent. We had an in-depth conversation about military transition, veteran employment, and the macro and micro factors that influence success after service. Whether you're a transitioning service member, a veteran, or an employer looking to hire veterans, there's something in this episode for you. Check out Dean's free resource for transitioning service members and veterans: Transition Ops https://transitionops.org/ You can also visit his business page and pre-order his upcoming book: https://vbs-veteran-hiring.netlify.app/tools
29 June 2026, 1:00 am
1 minute 31 seconds
Nitro Circus 2.0 Appleton, Wisconsin August 14th
ALL NEW NITRO CIRCUS TOUR COMES TO APPLETON! NITRO CIRCUS 2.0 TOUR PRESENTED BY RAM TRUCKS FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 NEUROSCIENCE GROUP FIELD NEVER BEEN DONE. NEVER BEEN SEEN. ABSOLUTELY UNREAL. You gotta see it to believe it! 100+ STUNTS. 20 ATHLETES. BUILT FOR BIG AIR AND BAD IDEAS. Tickets on sale now! Visit nitrocircus.com for more info
26 June 2026, 6:55 pm
2 hours 5 minutes
SE7 #251 Rob Schaefer- Horse Soldier Bourbon- Green Beret
Rob is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, diplomat, best-selling author, and co-owner of Horse Soldier Bourbon. With more than 35 years of leadership and service, he has been recognized with the prestigious OSS Veterans & US SOCOM Award of Excellence. Rob joined the Fragout Podcast to discuss leadership, military service, transition, entrepreneurship, and the experiences that shaped both his military and business career.
15 June 2026, 7:00 pm
2 hours 6 minutes
SE7 #252 Jake VandenPlus- Iraq War Veteran- Veteran Advocate
Jake is running for Wisconsin's 1st Senate District seat here in Northeastern Wisconsin. He served 13 years in the military and completed two deployments to Iraq. He's also the founder of DC Farm for Vets, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans through agriculture, purpose, and community. We spent some time sharing plenty of funny stories from our military days, but also had a serious conversation about leadership, public service, veteran issues, economic growth, education, and what motivated him to run for office. No matter where you fall politically, it's always valuable to hear directly from the people willing to step up and serve their communities.
15 June 2026, 5:07 pm
1 hour 54 minutes
SE7 #250 Eric Jansen- Balanced Veteran Network- Innovative Therapies
My friend Eric Jansen Government Affairs Coordinator for Balanced Veterans Network. Eric took the time to walk me through current legislation focused on removing barriers for veterans to access Innovative Therapies. That's the term being used now but we know what we're talking about.. Psychedelics. Eric isn't just talking about it, he's in Washington doing the work. Lobbying. Networking. Advocating at a high level. Pushing to cut through the red tape that's been holding veterans back from the full spectrum of care they've earned. We shouldn't need permission to heal. This isn't theory. It's backed by top tier research and real data. The results speak for themselves. Innovative Therapies are showing real impact for veterans dealing with PTSD, TBI, depression, Parkinson's, anxiety, and more. If you're not paying attention to this space yet, you should be. Download the BVN App, available on all platforms, and see what's being built. BVN.vet
11 May 2026, 5:24 pm
2 hours 7 minutes
SE7 #249 Jeremy Cate- Iraq War Veteran
Jeremy and I go back almost 20 years. We worked private security together at the Kikkoman Soy Sauce Factory in Walworth, WI… and yeah, we probably had a little too much fun along the way. But behind that is a story of transition, resilience, and pushing through real hardship. Jeremy's journey isn't easy but it's real, and it's powerful. Proud of the man he's become. Proud to call him a friend. This one's dropping soon. Don't miss it. See you at work.
26 April 2026, 11:54 pm
55 minutes 50 seconds
SE7 #248 Jessica Lynch- National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
Had the honor of sitting down with my friend, Iraq War Veteran and former POW Jessica Lynch, to talk about the importance of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. We dove into the history, what this day truly means, and how it's impacted her and other POWs. Perspective like that changes you. We also mixed in some good conversation on turkey and elk hunting because that's how real conversations go. Jessica is a wealth of knowledge, and every time we talk, I walk away better.
9 April 2026, 6:10 pm
2 hours 15 minutes
SE7 #247 Tyler Hackbarth- Knife Smith- Wolf River Forge- Iraq Veteran
Sharp and Witty Podcast with my friend Tyler Hackbarth. Tyler is an Iraq War Veteran and owner of Wolf River Forge. He was on Season 6 of Forged In Fire Battle of the Branches and was the overall winner of that season. He makes incredible knives here in Wisconsin. He's a Journey Knife Smith and working on his master knife smithing certification. Lots of laughs and serious moments. Please follow Fragout Podcast for all updates.
30 March 2026, 9:26 pm
1 hour 6 minutes
SE7 #246 Sam Parker- My Credit Guy Restoration
Exciting episode of the podcast with my friend Sam Parker, owner of My Credit Guy Credit Restoration widely regarded as #1 in the mortgage industry. Sam was in town, so we laid a track and broke down the fundamentals: • Credit scores • Credit repair vs. reality • VA Home Loans • Mortgages • Bankruptcy • How lenders actually look at your file This was an entry-level, no-BS conversation designed to educate and empower. Sam is an absolute nerd when it comes to credit and I mean that as the highest compliment. If you've ever wondered how your credit actually impacts your buying power, this one's for you.
23 February 2026, 1:25 am
1 hour 40 minutes
SE7 #245 Jason Seavey and Jeff Shock- House In The Woods
Great Podcast with my friends from House In The Woods Jeff Shock and Jason Seavey. Jason, an Air Force Veteran originally from Maine and now planted in the Fox Valley with his wife, and Jeff proud volunteer and guide are gearing up for Sturgeon Spearing opener this weekend. They've got 13 veterans from across Wisconsin coming in to try their luck on the ice. That's what it's about camaraderie, purpose, and the outdoors. In 2023, I traveled to Maine and had a successful bear hunt with them. Firsthand experience: this organization is the real deal. Phenomenal mission. Real impact.
16 February 2026, 12:36 am
2 hours 6 minutes
SE7 #244 Franki Moscato- Faith-Philanthropy- American Idol
Spiritual and exciting podcast with my friend Franki Moscato. Franki was on American Idol and she founded the Franki Moscato Foundation that focuses on young adults to preventing suicide and promote mental wellness through inspiration, education, and kindness. We talked about both our experiences with bullying and how we used it to better our lives. We talked about music and her strong faith. This was a super fun podcast and I learned a lot.