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If you've ever worked in New York, you may know the feeling. The city is fun, and you may even have your own "big, badass office", but those long commutes are expensive. They drain you of precious time and key family moments- that you're missing. John Duffin interviews Derek Fredrickson, a fractional CEO and longtime COO who has lived in Paris for 10 years. Derek shares how he left a Wall Street career during the 2008 financial crisis to join his entrepreneur wife’s coaching business, where they aligned on complementary “front stage/backstage” roles and grew to multiple seven figures. Derek explains how their family planned a move abroad, first considering Switzerland, then choosing Paris, and how they prepared by shifting the business online in 2015, using Skype/Zoom and asynchronous tools, while maintaining critical non-negotiables: no nights or weekends. Derek describes using nightly gratitude at dinner to help his kids adapt. He also outlines his COO approach: shifting founders from operator to owner, focusing on systems and accountability, implementing processes in phases (do it for you, together, then by yourself), delegating outcomes, not tasks, and using a “North Star” why and delegation audit to guide change. To learn more about Derek Fredrickson, check out the links below. https://thecoosolution.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekfredrickson/ https://www.facebook.com/derekfhttps:// www.youtube.com/@TheCOOSolution 00:00 Remote Work Prep 00:50 Podcast Welcome 02:36 Why France 03:37 Wall Street Exit 06:12 Train Aha Moment 08:14 A Family Affair- Joining Wife's Business 09:33 Risk And Safety Net 14:30 Life After Leap 16:28 Plan To Move Abroad 18:49 Settling In Paris 21:39 Business Goes Online 23:18 Family Gratitude Ritual 25:10 Fractional COO Insider 26:53 Bob Is The Bottleneck 27:23 Operator To Owner Shift 29:51 North Star Why Question 32:24 Careful COO Integration 33:32 Three Stage Process Rollout 36:35 Make It Up Make It Real 37:37 Delegate Outcomes Not Tasks 40:44 Accountability Culture Metrics 42:45 Hiring His Own COO 45:42 Delegation Audit Steps 48:03 Gratitude Family Wrap Up

Jay Duran on Letting Go, Sharing More, and Reclaiming Your Full Voice Host John Duffin welcomes returning guest and friend of the podcast, Jay Duran of Culture Matters. As a host, it’s important to me to honor each guest with a unique conversation, rather than a rehash of greatest hits. Jay has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, and I've been thrilled to have Jay as a guest on my podcast numerous times. Today marks a shift in the conversation. Jay’s shift toward more personal, behind-the-curtain writing and sharing, including recent social media posts and blogs discussing personal matters, brings the culture to a whole new level. Jay explains that after a decade of building his company and writing extensively for clients, he realized he never stopped writing—he stopped writing for himself—and now wants his private and public life, writing, and advisory work to align. We discuss how suffering, limited options, rejection, and risk shape entrepreneurs, and how success can create blind spots that require unlearning. Jay uses The Odyssey as a metaphor for letting go of outcomes and returning “home”. The business model grows as Culture Matters focuses beyond results, money, and case studies-while also describing renewed creative projects, upcoming speaking engagements, and the realization of recognizing that his story can inform the work without replacing the work. Definitely worth a watch (or several)! We also referenced very powerful previous podcasts that influenced my line of questioning. Here are the links. Dropping Bombs (Ep 78) - Are meetings important for company culture https://youtu.be/PfFKg4jQH3I?si=h3S8uacebiXQSjDT   Control Or Be Controlled: Are You In Control Of Your Life? https://youtu.be/sshpDUQGYdQ?si=MUy1IQrL6NZWzhyZ 00:00 Letting Go Odyssey 00:54 Podcast Welcome 01:31 Jay Returns Again 04:23 Integration Season 06:30 Shame Post Shift 07:58 Writing For Self 10:42 Pride And Layers 14:38 Pain Fuels Risk 20:01 Why Share Shame 21:26 Authenticity Online 24:09 Ferrari Back On 24:57 Going Home Metaphor 27:10 Completeness And Learning 28:36 Unlearning And Writing 31:07 Sharing Thoughts Publicly 32:18 Books Leadership, and Culture 33:30 Love Of Speaking 36:50 Story Versus Brand 40:06 Owning Your Leadership 43:00 Marriage And Not Alone 44:04 Transparency With Purpose 45:35 Who Your Content Attracts 50:40 Brad Lea Episode Reflection 55:02 Learning Unlearning Together 56:09 Closing and Sign-Off

Paul Espinosa on Escaping the Box: From Gang Life to Family, Work, and Giving Back On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin continues his conversation with California-based educator and lecturer Paul Espinosa, who is writing a book called Survival of the Psyche. Paul describes growing up as a shy “observer” with big dreams, feeling trapped in a cultural “box,” and seeking belonging. The dual vision also included money and the powerful lure of gang life. Listen to Paul explain the meaning of “homie love” in gang life while knowing it carried high costs. He explains the exhaustion of living two roles—gang member and family man—and how a gun confrontation, trade school, and a client’s offer to work construction helped him experience life outside the box. Paul credits his wife’s ultimatum and relocation with pushing real change. He now speaks in schools and works in jail programs, designing curriculum on topics like anger management and substance awareness, emphasizing authenticity, brain development, and his critical message that people can choose their actions but not the consequences. Paul's message is so powerful, and Paul Espinosa's storytelling is spellbinding. You'll get to walk the tightrope with us, as Paul vividly describes this dual, conflicting former life- the high cost of living that life- and the beautiful road of redemption and service. I am so grateful to have Paul Espinosa as my friend. Watching his uplifting story unfold is a sheer joy. I am confident that you'll be mesmerized by this episode. To learn more about Paul and to follow the journey, check out the links below. Prior Podcast Episode with John Duffin and Paul Espinosa https://www.instagram.com/paul_damascus_72/ https://www.facebook.com/paul.espinosa.980 00:00 Awkward First Step 00:32 Podcast Welcome 01:45 Paul Espinosa Returns 03:55 Observer Mindset 08:18 Gang Life Belonging 13:20 Two Divided Paths Clash 17:16 Gunpoint Wakeup 23:45 Taking Legit Work 27:08 Humbling Shift 28:22 First Real Job Shock 29:17 Double Life Contrast 30:54 Wife Draws the Line 34:48 Leaving the Hood Behind 37:49 Tricked Into Speaking 44:27 Teaching Inside the Halls 48:05 Choices and Consequences 55:08 Closing Thanks and Links

From Big Tech Burnout to Land Flipping Freedom: Mike Deaton’s “DIRT” Framework Host John Duffin interviews Mike Deaton, who spent over 20 years in big tech supply chain roles before being laid off in 2016 on the same day as his wife, Ligia. Imagine the feeling when both partners endure a serious career change on the same day!! Instead of returning to corporate work, they mapped their values and “perfect day,” hired a coach, and used a land-flipping toolkit Mike had previously purchased to build a business focused on buying vacant land at deep discounts and reselling without renovations. Mike explains the simplicity of land compared to other real estate models, early challenges around mindset and sales, and the importance of combining systems with soft skills. He outlines his coaching approach and DIRT framework—Define strategy, Identify markets, Reach out to owners, and perform Transactions—anchored in each person’s “why,” celebrating small wins and leveraging different forms of capital, such as relationships, time, and know-how. The impact of pivoting and change, especially when forced, is difficult. But what I got from Mike was the clarity that when a new situation presents itself, and it feels true to you, you have to seize that moment. To learn more about Mike Deaton and purchase his book, click the links below. https://flippingdirt.us/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbdeaton/ 00:00 Love of Transformation 00:36 Podcast Intro and Guest 03:06 From Big Tech to Layoffs 05:33 Choosing Freedom Over Following the Herd 5:57 Discovering Land Flipping 09:03 Career Highs and Burnout 15:14 Resisting the Safe Default 17:27 Building a Life Together 19:44 Coaching and Mindset Shift 21:18 Land Flipping Explained 22:09 Messy Middle and First Win 22:50 First Deal Momentum 23:14 Coaching Done Differently 24:43 Soft Skills Origins 29:14 Transformation Through Wins 31:34 Land Business Basics 34:17 Capital Time Matrix 39:01 Network As Capital 41:56 Values Then Action 46:55 Outro And Resources

On this episode of the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews Dr. Jack Groppel, author of Mountains Within and a sports science and human performance expert who co-founded the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute. Groppel recounts a childhood shaped by curiosity, solitude, sports, and a difficult, fear-based relationship with his father that drove him to overachieve. This pivotal early relationship included a severe beating that drove Jack to seek approval and constantly question if he was good enough. Through achievements like becoming an Eagle Scout early and walking on to play tennis at the University of Illinois despite not being recruited, Jack Groppel answered some of these questions- at least in his own mind. Jack describes pioneering high-speed film analysis in tennis and an early baseball study with the Chicago White Sox that unexpectedly captured pitchers’ pickoff moves, leading to published research on head-first vs. feet-first slides. Groppel also shares adopting his son Shen from China, committing to a nonviolent parenting approach, climbing Kilimanjaro together, and his message that people can transform at any stage by repeatedly asking, “What matters most right now?” To learn more about Dr. Jack Groppel, check out the links below. https://jackgroppel.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackgroppel/ 00:00 Hidden Film Discovery 00:47 Podcast Intro and Guest Setup 03:19 Curious Childhood Outdoors 04:20 Solo Sports and Cardinals Loyalty 07:20 Dad the Hero and Villain 10:24 Eagle Scout and Illinois Walk On 12:39 Shoulder Injury and Recovery 16:40 Alaska Trip Turning Point 19:06 Tennis Science Meets Legends 23:01 White Sox Film Breakthrough 26:56 Adopting Shen from China 28:49 Discipline Without Hitting 30:09 Saying I Love You 31:04 Marriage And Intimacy Lessons 31:47 Faith Therapy And Mentors 34:03 Adopting Shen In China 36:17 Kilimanjaro Dream With Shen 41:46 Summit Night And Big Dog 44:33 Transform Your Life Message 46:51 What Matters Most Daily 48:03 Honoring Dad And Priorities 49:47 Links Thanks And Signoff

From Selling T- Shirts with Radio Promotions to Award-Winning Documentaries: Scott Randolph’s Resilience, Networking & Storytelling Host John Duffin interviews Scott Randolph, founder of Arrival Video Productions LLC, about how seizing opportunities during his 15-year radio and TV career led to cable production, documentary filmmaking, public speaking, and storytelling.  Scott recounts landing his first promotions job at Eagle 106, earning trust through reliability and integrity, and surviving multiple station overhauls by maintaining a positive attitude and resilience.  Randolph describes how lessons learned from less successful sales roles, combined with extensive networking, helped him transition into Comcast’s Newsmakers crew and grow from teleprompter and graphics to assistant director and director.  Scott discusses his creative approach to matching music to imagery, founding Arrival Video in 2006, and producing The Battle of Crooked Billet, a Revolutionary War documentary with reenactors and dialogue that evolved into a docudrama feel, which is now being negotiated with several streaming networks.  He also shares his love of history, public speaking for 55+ communities, and how to book him via ghoststoursofnewhope.com. 00:00 Radio Roots and Big Leap 00:53 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 03:04 Philly Neighborhood Connection and Memories 04:30 Landing Eagle 106 Gig 08:30 Hershey Trip Integrity Moment 13:16 Resilience Through Station Shakeups 16:55 Skills Across Media and Sales Lessons 21:17 Networking Into Newsmakers Crew 23:45 Assistant Director Responsibilities 26:30 Finding Creative Voice in Editing 29:35 Crooked Billet Documentary Origins 31:50 Docudrama Shift and Streaming Talks 34:15 Spy Scene Surprise 35:46 Editing Room Magic 36:08 Recut After A Decade 37:49 Crooked Billet Connections 41:36 History Bug Origins 42:55 Revolution Over Civil War 44:55 Performing 1776 As A Kid 47:24 Speaking At 55 Plus 49:58 Emotional Connection Live 53:22 Theater Roots And Role Models 53:58 Mom The Creative Force 59:28 Never Let Age Define You 01:01:38 Where To Find Scott 01:02:40 Final Thanks And Wrap

From Scotland to Silicon Valley: Garry Drummond on Bootstrapping, Security Startups & Buying Back Time On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews Scottish entrepreneur and Loch Technologies founder Garry Drummond about his journey from early adversity and a teenage “Kiddo Video” venture to building security-focused startups in Silicon Valley. Drummond shares lessons in persistence, execution over ideas, and the importance of margins, recounting how his UK mail-order company Microworld sold millions but failed on thin 10% margins, forcing him to sell assets and move to California with his wife and young son. He describes landing a role via Dice, helping pioneer vulnerability management by turning penetration testing into a scalable appliance, and later growing Loch from a garage to global deployments, including drone detection. Garry also details his bootstrap principles, his work-life health focus (Garry doesn't speak from the typical work-life balance perspective), and his delegation strategies to “buy back time.” I will also share that part 2, with Garry Drummond, is coming soon. You’ll see today, and in the next episode, that Garry Drummond is a prolific storyteller. Check out the links below and secure your copy of Garry Drummond's Book https://www.scotsman.com/business/22-of-scotlands-smartest-tech-founders-head-to-silicon-valley-and-singapore-5267188 https://thebootstrapceo.com/ 00:00 Early Hard Lessons 00:53 Podcast Welcome 02:01 Humble Beginnings 05:12 Kiddo Video at 14 09:00 Milk Run Mindset 11:09 Why Silicon Valley 14:37 Greyhound Rescue Lesson 20:19 Microworld Margin Mistake 22:50 Yellow Pages to Vulnerability 27:05 Scaling and Market Timing 31:05 Bootstrap CEO Principles 38:10 Revenue Model and Delegation 42:33 Wrap Up and Links 43:47 Final Sign-Off

Adam Olsen on Speed, Systems, and Staying Ahead On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews Texas real estate leader Adam Olsen, who has completed over 5,000 transactions and built the Adam Olsen Team and The Commercial Professionals. Olsen shares how he started in real estate at 18, took seven months to close his first deal, then grew through consistent presence, follow-up, and a willingness to adapt as social media and AI disrupted the market. He discusses his early motivation, including losing his father young and later buying back his father’s red-and-white 1956 Chevy Bel Air, and explains how his cattle-industry background led into ranch and land deals, development work, and commercial transactions. Olsen outlines what he looks for when hiring, why “speed to lead” and “speed of implementation” matter, how he uses AI tools to save time, and why businesses that don’t adapt will fall behind. To learn more about Adam Olsen and his teams, check out the links below. https://www.instagram.com/adamsolsen/ https://www.instagram.com/adam.olsen.team/ https://thecommercialprofessionals.com/ https://adamolsenteam.com/ 00:00 Disruption and AI urgency 00:54 Podcast intro and guest setup 04:28 Adam Olsen origin story 06:54 Dad memories and that Chevy Bel Air 12:05 Pilot license and going all in 14:58 Early grind and sales basics 18:41 Safety net and sacrifices 22:29 Scaling up and leadership shift 26:16 Confidence and communication skills 30:42 Finding a niche in land deals 32:07 Land Deals and Rights 34:18 Marketing and Prospecting 35:29 Team Size Breakdown 37:28 Hiring for Street Smarts 43:00 Speed of Implementation 49:17 AI Tools and Market Risks 57:57 Disruptive Business Growth 01:05:33 Where to Follow Adam 01:06:19 Final Wrap and Credits

Join us on the Your Message Received podcast as host John Duffin interviews Aurora Winter—MBA, award-winning author, TV executive producer, and strategic brand showrunner—about why “the message sent is not the message received” and how concise messaging can transform a business and a life. Aurora shares how seven words (“five weeks of sun, fun, and tax shelter”) generated $3 million in one week in her yacht charter business, and how a practiced 20-minute pitch at the Banff Media Festival sparked a bidding war and launched her screen career, while teaching her to prepare what to ask for when success arrives. Aurora dives a little deeper, as our guest explains her 64/4 rule focused on high-leverage communication, her work at Same Page Publishing to “launch thought leaders” by building audiences before book publication, the “movie trailer” and “Netflix series” mindsets, her four human superpowers (stories, style, presence, coaching). Stay until the end for a great free incentive-a free 20-question quiz at thoughtleaderlaunch.com. 00:00 AI Scale or Destroy 00:14 Brand Showrunner Strategy 00:54 Podcast Intro and Guest 04:13 Fractional Showrunner Explained 04:38 Communication Origin Story 06:11 Seven Words Breakthrough 08:39 Overexplaining and Clarity 12:57 Pitch That Changed Everything 17:19 Practicing the 20 Minute Pitch 22:11 64 4 Communication Rule 23:57 Ask for the Next Step 25:44 Leaving Money Behind 26:55 Guts to Build 29:19 From Grief to Book 30:50 Grief Coach Academy 33:02 Secret Sauce Advantage 36:49 We Launch Thought Leaders 39:41 Brand Bible Process 42:20 Trailer vs Series 45:05 Quiz and Book Bonuses 48:17 Four Human Superpowers 50:31 Closing Thanks

Laurent Cohen (GetOblic) on Trust-First Voice AI, Authenticity, and Building Through Crisis Host John Duffin interviews Laurent Cohen, founder of GetOblic, about developing a trust-first approach to voice AI and finding an authentic business voice. Cohen shares how living in France, the U.S., and Israel shaped his mindset around craftsmanship, efficiency, and urgency, and discusses feeling safe in Israel despite wartime uncertainty. Laurent explains that adopting new technology requires earning trust, especially for small businesses operating in constant emergency mode, and argues AI should free owners to focus on customer relationships rather than replace them. Cohen rejects voice cloning as a breach of trust, emphasizing guardrails and strong data instead. He recounts a 2010 e-commerce crisis triggered by an Icelandic volcano and a bank shutdown, stressing responsibility, patience, and time. Mr. Cohen advises learning with AI first—using it to build skills—before applying it operationally. To learn more about Laurent Cohen, make sure to check out the links below. https://getoblic.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurent-cohen-usa/ 00:00 Volcano Chaos Lesson 00:55 Podcast Welcome Intro 02:26 Life Across Cultures 04:35 Craft Efficiency Urgency 07:16 Safety And Perspective 11:12 Building With New Tech 15:03 Small Business Trust Shift 20:16 Identity Over Voice 24:02 No Voice Cloning Stance 25:34 Data Guardrails Approach 27:09 Losing Authenticity 29:12 Kids As Motivation 31:00 Surviving Business Crisis 34:01 Volcano Disrupts Shipping 35:45 Chargebacks Kill Payments 37:03 Owning The Mistakes 40:44 Time Craft And Execution 44:27 AI For Service Pros 47:15 Learn With AI First 50:50 Where To Find Laurent 51:47 Final Thanks And Outro

Host John Duffin welcomes Josh Klaris, Executive Director of North 10 Philadelphia, to discuss leadership, nonprofit strategy, and place-based community revitalization in Hunting Park/East Tioga (often a neglected neighborhood in Philadelphia). I've personally attended several North 10 Philadelphia events and have seen firsthand the critical work being done. While I interviewed Josh, you'll hear the passion, mission, and purpose in Josh's voice. You'll also hear just how difficult (and gratifying) it is to wear ALL of the hats of the Executive Director. Klaris traces his path from volunteer mentoring in rural St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, where teaching kindergarten to Vietnamese refugee children shaped his worldview and led him to earn a master’s in teaching English as a second language. He later helped build Dream Charter School in Harlem with a holistic, co-teaching model and learned the operational realities of hiring, metrics, and sustainability. In Philadelphia, the opportunity arose to implement a neighborhood-improvement blueprint inspired by Purpose-Built Communities and Harlem Children’s Zone, emphasizing disciplined strategic planning, saying no, surrounding yourself with the right people, and building trust-based collaborations. Place Matters. The conversation highlights North 10’s fight and the ongoing need for sustainable funding and collective action- especially in neglected neighborhoods. To learn more about Josh Klaris, the critical work being done by North 10 Philadelphia, or to lend a hand, check out the links below. https://north10phl.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jklaris/ 00:00 Intro- Welcome, Josh Klaris 00:46 Podcast Welcome And Guest Intro 03:53 Why Education Chose Him 06:40 Teach For America in Louisiana 09:59 Back To New York And Training 11:55 Work Ethic From Family And Mentors 15:23 Music Lessons And Team Culture 16:32 Dream Charter School Leadership 20:31 Nonprofit Sales And Fundraising 25:00 Moving To Philadelphia 26:45 Leaving Schools For Place-Based Work 27:58 North 10 Origin Story 29:27 Why Place Matters 31:41 Strategic Plan Discipline 33:27 Design Principles Culture 37:49 Dumping Fight Strategy 40:47 Funding Collaboration Challenge 44:53 Pushing Back With Trust 47:16 Sustainability And Health Gaps 52:55 How To Get Involved 54:06 Closing

Host John Duffin interviews Ivan Radovic, president and CEO of Novaces and author of Trust 360, about how trust enables teams to tackle major challenges across corporate, military, healthcare, disaster recovery, and federal work. Ivan shares how growing up amid the Yugoslav conflicts shaped his view that distrust is a root cause of conflict, and how he built trust after immigrating to the U.S. They discuss resilience after Hurricane Katrina, reframing adversity as opportunity, and “opening new doors” by pursuing work beyond a devastated local market. Ivan describes early career mentorship that launched him into consulting, lessons from large-scale projects, including an oil-spill response with 420,000 task lines, and the importance of process, accountability, clear deadlines, reciprocal mentoring across generations, and using AI to speed work without changing character or authenticity. To learn more about Ivan and his company, check out the links below. https://www.novaces.com/00:00 Trust Starts the Process 01:34 Podcast Intro and Guest Welcome 03:51 From Yugoslavia to America 06:43 Building Trust Across Cultures 10:37 Katrina and Rebuilding Resilience 16:45 Opening New Doors After Disaster 19:28 First Consulting Breakthrough 23:07 Military Business Trust Transfer 24:46 Facing the Biggest Projects 26:28 Trust Unlocks Talent 27:28 Military Rigor Wins 28:51 Scaling Big Projects 29:39 Trust 360 Steps 34:27 Deadlines Build Trust 36:44 Reciprocal Mentoring 41:18 Leaders Using AI 44:39 Vulnerability First 46:05 Where To Connect 46:50 Final Thanks Outro

Are you in need of building a resilient business? Do you ignore cash flow warning signs, risk mitigation, or the urgency of systems strategy? Then today's episode with Sonya Corkery is for you. Business consultant Sonya Corkery discusses building resilient businesses through strong financial foundations, systems, and risk mitigation. Sonya shares how early work in her family’s struggling service-station businesses taught her resilience, customer service skills, and a disciplined approach to money, then traces her rapid rise in banking, from bank manager at 23 to financial planning during the GFC, where she refused to push unsuitable products. She explains how her family’s electrical contracting business nearly collapsed when three builders liquidated, leaving almost $1M unpaid and only five days of operating capital, but they recovered within 12 months through strategy and support from suppliers and advisors. Sonya clearly defines her consulting approach: entity setup and asset protection, cash-flow forecasting, break-even clarity, streamlined SOPs, fractional teams, diversification, and AI, and planning to build your business as if it were being sold tomorrow. To learn more about Sonya Corkery, check out the links below.  https://clearplanconsulting.com.au/https:// www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-corkery-a326238b/ https://www.instagram.com/clearplanconsulting/ 00:00 Business on the Brink 01:11 Podcast Welcome and Setup 04:42 Sonya’s Early Work Lessons 08:29 Family Crisis and Survival 10:52 Resilience and Money Mindset 12:41 Banking Career Rise 16:39 Ethics Under Pressure 19:14 Joining the Family Business 21:48 Builders Collapse Fallout 25:34 Turning Advice Into Consulting 27:26 Service Offerings Breakdown 28:26 When To Get Help 28:55 Cashflow And Forecasting Basics 31:28 Asset Protection Foundations 34:27 Implementation And Risk Planning 36:31 Growth Trends And AI 39:14 Industries And Diversification 41:12 Speaking With Shock And Awe 44:12 Fractional Teams And Board 46:01 Where To Find Sonya Corkery 47:30 Final Sign Off

On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews multiple-published author and former active-duty/National Guard officer Richard Spegal about authenticity in storytelling and his path from military service to writing. Spegal explains how reading Anne Rice led him to write adult vampire/paranormal fiction and why he prioritizes realism—characters should act like real people and never pander to the audience—letting them drive the plot. He discusses writing mostly by typing due to nerve damage, deploying to Iraq and Egypt (including the MFO Sinai mission with multinational forces), and medically retiring after serving about a decade and a half in the Guard. Spegal describes publishing Redemption after a 10-year gap, reader reactions to Origins and its mental-health themes, and upcoming relaunches through a new publisher, including Broken Angel and future science-fiction entries in the Eternal Knights series, plus where to find him online. 00:00 Immersion Over Pandering 00:55 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 02:35 Origins of Dark Fantasy Writing 03:32 Writing Habits and Process 04:43 Military Path and National Guard 07:59 Deployments Iraq and Egypt 09:28 Inside the MFO Sinai Mission 10:05 Multinational Ops and Communication 14:03 Going Full Time as an Author 15:17 Realistic Characters Drive Plot 19:04 Building a Series and New Genres 21:00 Avoiding Mouthpiece Characters 22:03 Living in the Story World 23:28 Publishing After A Decade 24:48 Favorite Scene In Redemption 26:27 Writing Dark Mature Themes 28:27 Military Realism In Fiction 30:22 Reader Email That Hit Hard 33:46 Mental Health On The Page 36:16 Writing Changes The Writer 38:23 Relaunch And New Publisher 39:22 Hardest Book Broken Angel 40:58 Climbing Out Of The Darkness 44:08 Where To Find The Author 45:42 Final Thanks And Sign Off

Overcoming Adversity: From War Zones to Wings 4 Heroes—Featuring Lyubim KoganIn this impactful episode of 'Your Message Received,' host John Duffin sits down with Lyubim Kogan, founder of 'Wings4 Heroes.' They dive deep into Lyubim's incredible journey, from surviving 9/11 to competing as an Olympian, and his profound mission to support veterans affected by war. The conversation covers how Lyubim navigated the annexation of Crimea, dealt with immense pressures in Ukraine, and ultimately dedicated his life to veterans' rehabilitation. Recorded on Veterans Day, this episode is an inspiring look at resolve, humanitarian effort, and the drive to make a meaningful difference. This episode also references the influence of historical figures such as Mother Cabrini, founder of Cabrini College, and Henry Dumont, founder of the American Red Cross, in shaping Kogan's mission. Highlighted media moments include a recent Facebook post celebrating the courage of a veteran returning to life with dignity, thanks to community support and paragliding adventures that foster healing and resilience. For me, learning about extremely difficult human conditions was tough for me to comprehend at first. Lyubim's dignity, grace, resilience, and impact really moved me. To learn more about Wings 4 Heroes- and to lend a hand- check out the links below. Wings4Heroes.org https://wings4heroes.org/shop/ 00:00 Introduction and Context 01:29 Welcome to Your Message Received Podcast 02:20 Introducing Lyubim Kogan and Wings for Heroes 03:56 The Inspiration Behind Wings for Heroes 05:00 Historical Figures and Their Impact 10:04 Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Civilians and Soldiers 14:41 Personal Stories of Resilience 16:30 The Emotional and Physical Toll of War 19:07 Lyubim Kogan's Personal Journey 27:23 Reviving a Failing Infrastructure Company 33:03 Facing Life's Greatest Challenge 33:40 The Struggles of Isolation 34:37 Overcoming Obstacles and Stress 35:59 The Importance of Taking Action 36:34 Breaking the Autopilot Cycle 41:40 The Power of Decision and Small Steps 47:00 Rebuilding After Devastation 52:36 Supporting Veterans Through Wings 4 Heroes 01:01:40 Final Thoughts and Call to Action