Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You
Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You shines a light on the real struggles and triumphs of veterans navigating life after military service. Each episode dives into the heart of military transition—sharing tales of resilience, setbacks, humor, and growth as veterans move from boots to business or rediscover purpose in civilian life. If you’re seeking inspiration, practical advice on military transition, or just a reminder that you’re not walking this path alone, Exit Buddy is here to help you find your way forward and thrive beyond the uniform.
Episodes
14 episodes
The Lessons We Learned from Our Honorary Exit Buddies
It’s the Season 1 finale! Kathleen and Rachel sit down to reflect on the incredible veterans who joined us on Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. From pilots to cyber warriors and nonprofit founders, each guest left us with hard-...
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Season 1
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17:26
Brewing Your Next Chapter: Translating Supply Corps Skills to Starbucks
In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, we meet Stephanie West, a Navy veteran who charted a course from the supply lines of the military to the heart of Starbucks operations. She discusses joining the Navy at 17 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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25:33
Breaking Barriers in Aviation & Turning Passion into Nonprofit Purpose
In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, retired US Air Force pilot Jessica Ruttenber shares her remarkable journey navigating—and ultimately transforming—the world of military aviation. Jessica recounts battling ph...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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23:29
Buckle Down & Break Through: From Devil Dog to Cyber Champion
Join Kathleen Smith and Rachel Bozeman as they welcome Tom Eston, a Marine turned cybersecurity trailblazer, podcaster, and mentor, for an inspiring dive into his journey. From his infantry days to carving out a security career, Tom shares how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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26:43
Don’t Tough It Out: A Marine's VA & Vitamin M Warning
Join Kathleen Smith and Rachel Bozeman as they welcome Rob Fuller, a U.S. Marine veteran, cybersecurity leader, and community founder, for a raw look at his journey. From blowing up 300 pounds of C4 as a combat engineer to thriving in cybersecu...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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33:59
From Chief to "Just" Jaimee: Soul Searching & Taking Your Shot
In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Air Force veteran Jaimee Freeman shares her recent military transition experience—shedding her Chief identity for "just" Jaimee after 28 years of service. Jaimee reveals how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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22:25
It Sucks, but I Love It: Finding Joy Through the Tough Stuff
Air Force veteran Josh Mason shares his journey of military transition and personal growth on this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. From cybersecurity to teaching, entrepreneurship, podcasting, and building a chicke...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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31:30
Carrying the Load and Uplifting Others
Army veteran Daniel Benjamin steps up to the mic to share his military transition story, from 20 years in signals intelligence to a program manager in cybersecurity and healthcare, on this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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20:08
Red Nails, New Trails: Forging Your Identity After Service
In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, 20-year Air Force veteran Trecie Spencer shares her journey from joining the Air Force at 17 to a successful career as a project manager at GSA. She dives into how a phone li...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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19:42
From Tech to Tarmac: A Fighter Pilot’s Second Act in Aviation
Air Force veteran Steve Luczynski shares his remarkable journey from soaring the skies in F-15s and F-22s to navigating national security policy, diving into a cybersecurity leadership path, and eventually pivoting back to his first love—flying...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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26:13
Hawk & Hack: Finding Your Personal Brand and Cyber Tribe
Army veteran John Stoner shares his resilient path from signals intelligence analyst to cybersecurity leader in this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. With a decade of Army service—spanning time in Afghanistan, Bagra...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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27:15
Behind the Mic: Meet Your Exit Buddies, Kathleen & Rachel
In this bonus episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, hosts Kathleen Smith and Rachel Bozeman pull back the curtain for a fun, heartfelt "get to know us" chat. From the inspiration behind the podcast name to their career j...
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16:20
Fire on Deck to Fire in the Belly: If You Lose Your Passion, You've Lost at Life
Navy veteran Shanon Raab discusses his journey from machinist’s mate to passionate recruiter, in both the Navy and civilian worlds, in our first official episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. Shanon shares how a chance v...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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32:30