Security Halt!
Welcome to Security Halt! Podcast, the show dedicated to Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, and First Responders. Hosted by retired Green Beret Deny Caballero, this podcast dives deep into the stories of resilience, triumph, and the unique challenges faced by those who serve.
Through powerful interviews and candid discussions, Security Halt! Podcast highlights vital resources, celebrates success stories, and offers actionable tools to navigate mental health, career transitions, and personal growth.
Join us as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder, proving that even after the mission changes, the call to serve and thrive never ends.
Security Halt!
Dagan “Hoot” VanOosten on Veteran Community, the Scottish Highlands and Jumping Into Normandy | Security Halt! Ep. 470
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Why do challenge, shared experiences, and community continue to matter after military service?
In Episode 470 of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero sits down with Dagan “Hoot” VanOosten to talk about veteran community, resilience, storytelling, and what he learned from completing a demanding 54-mile trek through the Scottish Highlands and jumping into Normandy.
Dagan shares the physical and mental challenges of the Scottish Highland yomp, the emotional significance of returning to Normandy, and why difficult experiences can create opportunities for veterans to reconnect with camaraderie, history, and purpose.
Deny and Dagan also explore authentic storytelling in the veteran community, the problems with negativity and clickbait, supporting veteran entrepreneurs and initiatives, and why veterans should use their platforms to create opportunities and tell stories that strengthen the community rather than divide it.
Episode 470 is a conversation about doing hard things, celebrating small victories, building genuine relationships, and continuing to find meaningful ways to serve after the uniform comes off.
Listen now. Follow the show. Share this with the veteran or entrepreneur who needs to hear it.
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Dagan “Hoot” VanOosten
02:55 Scotland, Veteran Community & the Next Challenge
04:52 54 Miles Through the Scottish Highlands
08:07 Why Doing Hard Things Builds Resilience
12:13 Why Veteran Community Events Matter
14:46 Jumping Into Normandy
17:53 Honoring Military History & Airborne Lineage
22:00 Supporting Veterans Through Real Opportunities
24:53 Authentic Storytelling in the Veteran Community
30:02 The Problem With Negativity & Clickbait
34:00 Building Genuine Veteran Connections
40:00 Travel, Challenges & Celebrating Small Victories
45:10 Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs & What’s Next
49:49 Final Thoughts & Connecting With Dagan
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Produced by Security Halt Media
Advocacy Behind The Scenes
SPEAKER_01There's a lot of people out there that are doing incredible work, not just in their own space of like content creation, their own shows, their own podcasts, but what they're doing behind the scenes to get other people opportunities. You know, I've been on the receiving end of that. Like having phone calls for people like, hey, I got information about you from this other person. I gotta put their name out there. They're a little private, but um, it's incredible. And then I try to do the same and try to, you know, always bring in other individuals to whatever endeavor I have the opportunity for. And like it's awesome to like have that mindset of like, okay, you know what? Like, this opportunity came to me because somebody else is willing to advocate and promote me behind closed doors. I gotta do the same for the next person. Imagine somebody being able to like cash a paycheck, get a steady gig, or get a huge sponsor because you help them get that. That's a fucking win.
SPEAKER_00That security halt media is looking for clients that need video editing. Have them reach out to info at securityhaltmedia.com.
SPEAKER_01Dagan, welcome back to Security Hall, man. How you been?
SPEAKER_02Hey, brother, you are looking great.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I try. It's a moisturizing routine.
SPEAKER_02It's like extremely handsome. Extremely handsome.
SPEAKER_01It's all the peptides I'm taking. That's right. From various vadey, various shady places on the internet.
SPEAKER_02Rip all of them. Yeah. Rip every single one of them.
SPEAKER_01Dude, the days of be conservative with putting things in your body are long gone. I am taking every injectable that's out there. I want to live to at least a comfortable '99. Uh I've got kids to to to have and the little one that I love dearly, and I want to be around for her life. Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, better living through the uh yeah, proper
Remembering Dolly Parton’s Quiet Giving
SPEAKER_02pharmaceuticals.
SPEAKER_01Dude, if Dolly Parton can stick around to her right, what uh she just she passed yesterday. So R.I.P. Dolly. She had she lived a long life. Um I tell you what, I'm not gonna lie, that one stung a little bit. Dude, she wasn't I yeah, I don't think anybody was ready for her to pass. She's she's just a fixture of our American culture, dude. Like it was like, I didn't expect that one.
SPEAKER_02She had a solid run. She had a real solid run.
SPEAKER_01Dude, uh, I think what a lot of people don't realize, and uh this will be a small segue into Dolly Parton's uh philanthropy. She did a foundation, or she ran a foundation for a long time that if you signed your kid up um for their entire child, she would send them kids' books. And it was uh and and here's the phenomenal part our our daughter wasn't even born yet, and we were doing the uh the you know initial checkups at on base, and they were trying to sign us up before Izzy was even here. And then when we moved to Montgomery again, uh at our her a couple of her checkups are like, Oh, have you guys signed up for the the the book, uh I forget the name of the program through Dolly Parton's uh initiative? I'm like, holy cow, every I think how many kids and families that woman's helped out. Uh, just you know, the small gift of a book every month, dude. Like, that's insane. Like you you have that much money and wealth where you could just be like, you know what? I'm just I'm gonna invest in making myself richer. But no, she invested back in the small communities and um, you know, uh American kids, dude. That's incredible. It's incredible.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you'd be hard pressed. You'd be hard pressed to uh, you know, sharpshoot, sharpshoot. I mean, nobody's perfect, but she was she was pretty rad.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I don't I don't recall a single, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. The internet will let me know quickly in the YouTube comments a single controversy that she was involved in. I'm bracing right now.
SPEAKER_02Hopefully, we're counting on you guys. Please don't let us slide.
SPEAKER_01Don't don't tell me she was involved in Epstein Island.
SPEAKER_02Right, yeah. Careful what you right, careful what you say. Yeah, time will tell.
SPEAKER_01Dude, right? Oh man, but yeah, it's just one of those things. It was like, and Willie Nelson, too, man. Like that's figures in American history that transcend genres, dude. Like, um, whether it was, I mean, nine everybody knows nine to five, everybody knows steel magnolia is like everybody knows those little I mean, dude, like it's such a big, big foundation of American culture.
SPEAKER_02Like, it's Americana for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. So R.I.P. to you, Dolly, where uh you're gonna be missed. Yeah, cool lady. But man, how have you been, dude? You've been traveling all over the world. I mean, the last time we checked in on each other, I was going to Normandy and you were fucking going to Scotland.
SPEAKER_02Scotland, yeah.
Scotland’s Yomp And Why It Matters
SPEAKER_02That was the uh shout out to the uh 1st Battalion Fifth Marines Association and the Robert Irvine uh Foundation um and the uh the RAF, they put on the uh 54 mile annual yomp. And uh that was uh that was an experience. Man, it was a good time. I highly recommend it. Um, you know, obviously it uh you know it's not without its its um arduous, you know, moments, you know, because it's because it's 54 miles through the Scottish Highlands. But uh what a great group of of uh of people and uh it was a phenomenal trip. Absolutely fantastic. I really hope I get the chance to do it again or at a bare minimum support, uh, because I'd be happy to go there and fill water and take out the trash, you know.
SPEAKER_01Dude, break that down. I've heard about it before. I've seen a few notable veterans. Um, I forget who was it, the former sec of the Air Force. Uh, he did it a few years back, and I was following him. He posted about it. It looks, it literally looks like you're trampling through Middle Earth, man.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. It was uh, yeah, and we and we've all been on our force marches, right? Um you know, obviously at your own pace, and there's a you know, there's a no shortage of food, water, you know, it's so it's not necessarily the baton death march, so to speak, right? Um, because you you're you you want for almost nothing while you're while you're there, other than comfortable feet. But uh it's uh the the terrain is absolutely gorgeous. It was my first time in Scotland, so it was a good way to kind of um you know check that check that box. I had not been to Scotland before. And uh the like I said, I can't say enough good things about the Robert Irvine Foundation, Robert Irvine himself, the entire crew absolutely, you know, absolutely crushed it as far as support and logistics. And uh the the food was obviously amazing and uh just a really, really wholesome, good for the soul, you know, event to connect with you know the veteran community. And um uh it was great, man. Like I said, uh highly recommend, highly recommend it to anybody that can get over there and and get her done. I only did 36 out of the 54 miles. They have uh uh, if I can remember correctly, a 22 mile stopping point, a 36 mile stopping point. And then after that 36, you're kind of on a time limit where if you don't meet certain time hacks, uh basically I just ran out of time, right? And uh I was like, well, this was the first run, you know, we'll we'll finish it next time if I'm afforded the opportunity. And uh uh, you know, I I could talk for hours about it. It was just great. Uh left there feeling uh uh left there with a full
Choosing Suffering Over Comfort
SPEAKER_02heart, if that makes sense.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, dude. I think it's it's hard for a lot of people to understand the importance of doing something difficult like that and what it does for you. Um it it look, it it's deeply connected within the veteran experience to do something difficult, to do something that challenges you. And I think we forget that when we get out. We don't look for that. I mean, Spartan racing has done a lot, uh, not just for the civilian populace, but for veterans. Like there's there's always a sign-up, but I always look towards something that's just a little bit less um like I I don't want the the high fives and and like the cool laughing. I want something that sucks. Something that like you can do it with good people, have good times, but I like I don't want the gimmick of like running around obstacles. Like obstacle course is great. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to shame you in what you enjoy if that's your thing, but like a a run, a an insane, insane hunt with your friends, where it's like, dude, like we're going the backcountry, like we're gonna be out there on our own, and like, yes, the prize is gonna get a shot, uh getting a shot at one of these wonderful majestic animals, but then there's on the backside, and I gotta hump it all the way out. Like, that's a type of shit that I'm like, fuck, dude. How do we build this in the community? How do we start affording these opportunities to more veterans to get out there and do something that's awe-inspiring? Because this Spartan race, it's to me, it's like a 5k. I know you guys are gonna eat me alive in the comments, but that's just my opinion. Doing something like, you know, the uh the savage loop here in Florida. That's fucking that's like, even if you don't make the full thing, you're it's a gut check, dude. Like getting out there and pushing past that, like, like the 10 miles. Okay, that that's all right. 20, 30, like I think there's something to that. I think it's something that can help us have better perspective at the end of the year when we look at life. Like, so that when you look at those emails that like really start to like piss you off, you're like, man, I've I've dealt with harder things in my day-to-day.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, without a doubt, yeah, there's something to be said. Um, it's there's a a cathartic aspect to it where, you know, not to sound dramatic, but like that that purification through pain. Yeah, you know, and uh, you know, it's to to me, and I, you know, it it's cleansing, you know, it may be extremely unpleasant at the time, and and and rest assured it was, you know. Um, you know, right right around the 23 mile mark, I started kind of circling the drain. My hooves were busted. And uh, I was like, yep, this this is gonna suck, you know, but it's gonna be a good suck. And uh, you know, it's um I think you know, it just any chance you get to kind of test your metal um voluntarily, uh, I think you should, you know, and like you said, whether that's running a mile, you know, if that's your you know, crucible, it's better than nothing. Yeah, right. You know, and then we work our way up to uh some of the stuff to where people would look at you, you know. People, um I was telling people I was getting ready to go do it, and you know, the looks I would get like, what why would you do that? You know, and I'm like, well, it's uh I don't know, it's hard to explain. But I'm really looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's definitely it's part of our DNA, man. I think it's truly within us. And even like I think you can tap into it, even if it if it's been a while, man, if you've been, you know, just chilling out at Fort Couch and doing your thing. I'm telling you, all it takes is like one event, one thing. And that's why I tried champion, like, dude, get out, start your start your journey back to getting fit and getting healthy today. Don't wait. Like, that's that's literally the thing that's gonna keep you around a lot longer. Like, there's a lot of you know, like we were joking about earlier, there's a lot of things out there in the market, peptides, TRT, tons of stuff that can help you. Yes, it's great. But dude, what you need to start doing is getting out there and challenging yourself, being uncomfortable for a little bit at the beginning of the day, whether it's like you said, a mile, doing some push-ups, sit-ups, getting back into the gym, dude, or you know, finding finding joy in that physical movement, dude. Like it's not about the dread, and some days is gonna suck. Like, I get it, but if you can get to the point where you're enjoying it again, man, and then you know, maybe do something like join team red, white, and blue, team RWB, man. Shout out to those guys. You know, it's not just about the movement, it's about connecting to man. Like being out there in Scotland with other dudes, other gals are are are driven to do that. That must have been incredible.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it was uh, like I said, can't say enough about the connections that were made in um you know, uh, and obviously there was a lot of reunion too, you know, a lot of repeat offenders, and and to be immediately, you know, immediately welcomed into um there's just something in and all veterans experience this, right? Like there's you know, all branches of service, cookmaker, candlestick makers, ninjas, you name it, you know what I'm saying? Um and just that instant bond and connection. Um it was like we had all been in the same unit for years together, right? And uh, you know, and then obviously, like I said, you throw on some, throw in some good food and uh in a team event like that. And uh yeah, I mean I I made tons of connections and uh like I said, really, really looking forward to doing it again if at all possible. And uh it's definitely worth uh the listeners looking into if they're if they're looking for uh a solid kick in the ass. Yeah, because it is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and uh you hit on something else that's important too. Like you're you're gonna connect, you're gonna make new friends, you're gonna get out there and and dude, it can help you in your professional development. I will say that doing things with other people will open doors for not just you know opportunities, but yeah, man, growing your business or do whatever you're doing on the outside. So get out there and enjoy life. Stop sitting around at the house watching Netflix. Nothing good of it. Like comfort and entertainment. Like that's that's gonna be the death of so many people, man. That's that's the sad reality of it. People are I I know it because it's such a comforting drug. It really is. It's a it's a comforting drug to sit down, whether it's you know binge watching a show or fucking getting on Amazon Prime and buying the latest movie instead of getting out there and going to see it in theaters, dude. It's uh comfort is killing Americans, dude, and nobody's talking about it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it was abundantly clear. Um, you know, like I said, uh one, my my age, uh, you know, watching some of the younger um, because it it's you know, there's uh people from all over the world, you know what I'm saying, are showing up to this thing, and uh to watch some of the young uh you know, British, Irish, Scottish, you know, military uh and the dude, they're doing it in all their kit, right? You know, and in my head, you know, they're you know, and they're hauling ass. You know what I mean? They're they're uh they're they're you know, all gas, no brakes, and you know, that was like I said, like that was cathartic as well, because you know, in my head, obviously I'm still that age. I can still do all those things, right? And then when a 20-something year old burns past you in full kit, you know what I mean? And I had just I have a light coat of CLP on, you know what I mean? Like, and and it's uh, you know, I was going as light as possible, you know, and uh trying to do the minimalist thing, you know. And uh it was it was good, man. It was it just brought a smile to my face, you know. Um it just uh like I said, it's uh it's hard to have a bad time, um, even when you're in the that amount of pain.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. It's great seeing younger dudes getting after it. I saw the same thing in Normandy, man. Like uh watching those Rangers running across the beach on on the anniversary of uh D-Day, it was just like holy shit, like unbelievable studs, dude. It's like studs. And then you're it it it makes you appreciate youth, but also it made me appreciate where I'm at, man. Like I'm like, shit, man, like the the ability to look back and say, like, like as you're watching these kids, young man, like it getting, you know, you're you're seeing him from the distance and they're just crushing it, dude. And then when you when they finally all get up there, they they get in front of the monument, and you think it's over. Oh, surely they're gonna get on these buses. No, they turn around and keep fucking running. And it's just like, dude, like how how wonderful it is to see, like, okay, like I I was that young, I was doing those things back in the day. It's like, okay, I may not be able to do exactly what those
Normandy Jump And Lineage Pride
SPEAKER_01kids can do at that age, at that performance level, but I still got some in the tank, man. I still got it. Yeah, I still got it, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I don't have all of it, but I have some of it. You know, like yeah. Well, was that your first time at Normandy?
SPEAKER_01That was my second. This is my my my second time, and it was my first time jumping in. So it was incredible, dude. Incredible.
SPEAKER_02How surreal was that?
SPEAKER_01Dude, it was uh no joke, one of the the greatest experiences uh in my life. Like it free fall is great, dude. I I talk about like if there's one thing I miss about being in special operations, I miss free fall. And people are always like, well, why don't you just get current again and jump? And I'm like, yeah, that'd be great. That'd be fun, but it's never gonna be the same as jumping with your teammates. It's never gonna be the same as you know being a jump master for your team and having that experience of like fuck now, now I have this this ownership of this task. Like I get to be a contributor. I'm not just here for a fun time. Now I get to show that like I'm taking responsibility for something that's you know really important. And uh I miss that.
SPEAKER_02It's very important.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, man. Fuck your cypressetting. It's good, it's good.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you're you're the most important dude out there.
SPEAKER_01Like it's just like those memories are near and dear to me. Like that getting those courses, being able to bring back that resource. I think that was for me, that was a chapter where it changed my mindset of like, oh, this, you know, these schools are for me, for me, for me. I'm like, oh, look at the greatness. Now it's like I have a responsibility. I I I owe it to these guys to be the best version of myself, to understand my craft and do right by them. And I miss that team mentality of being able to go for a jump and be excited and and and execute something with dudes that you're working with. Uh, I don't think it's the same when you do it recreationally, because in fact, I did it for a while. Uh me and I for a long time, uh, me and one of the uh the Charlie's on my team, we lived together and we would go jump and it was fun, it was great. But looking back and where I'm at now, it's like I miss that. And I I don't think it's the same. I don't think it's the same for me. I I I know that when I look back at that time period, I can't you can chase that. You can go after that same feeling, but it's not the same, dude. It's not, it's not the same as going to Eloy and doing back-to-back jumps and fucking getting kitted up, doing nighttime wall lockers, getting done at like fucking 4 a.m., crashing out, waking back up to do some more nighttime iterations at the end of the day. Um but getting the opportunity to jump into Normandy was incredible because it didn't give me that free fall connection, that feeling. But what it did is it gave me a uh a deeper respect and and and love for my lineage, my connection to the 82nd. Before I was a Green Beret, I was a proud paratrooper in in 2504, and that's what really hit for me. Being able to go there on the 82nd anniversary to jump in there, yeah, with with my 82nd pads, that was fucking cool. Like it was it was incredible, dude. It was it was fucking incredible. I never had those opportunities when I was in in uh the 82nd. Um, it just wasn't a focus. I I came in during the surge and it was fucking deploy. Deploy, train up, fucking mass tax exits, concussions, and deploy back to Iraq. And uh it was just a really cool way to go back and honor that service and feel connected to everybody that served in that unit in that time period. Uh, what made it even more special is I got to connect with one of my buddies from the 82nd because he he's been doing these jumps for years now. Um and he was on a different jump team. I forget who he was with. I think it was with Brown Canopy. I was jumping with Liberty Jump Team. Shout out to them. Great group of individuals, amazing uh husband and wife team that are running that, amazing individuals. I could not have asked for uh a greater group of people to jump with. So impressed by the professionalism and the passion, dude. To execute what they executed is insane. Like the and and you know, where we're the group that I was working with and jumping with, that's the Warrior Rising team that I'm so honored and proud uh to be a member of that organization. Um but we're bringing people that you know have never jumped, they weren't military. They they had taken ground training and jumped and and and you know, put in the time and effort and money and resources to get that opportunity. So to be able to go there and and help them and see that like that young jumper mentality again and uh help them rig up, that was so cool too. Because like these are these are individuals never jumped in their entire life uh in the military. It's all civilian people that have paid and trained to do this, and to see their excitement and be like, oh my god, I never got to do this. I'm like, this is only you know, they're this is uh their fifth jump, and I'm like, oh shit, man. Like, cool. Um, you're you're doing something that very few people get to do, so just enjoy it. Just be here for the moment. It was so wonderful, dude. Um, cannot say enough great things about it. And I'm I'm just I'm thrilled that um hopefully next summer I'll um be able to do that. Again. So I've even been thinking about like how do I get my jump master uh currency back up so I can be a static live JM for this?
SPEAKER_02That would be sick.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that would be sick for sure. It's uh it's such a special place, too. Obviously, I've only been there one time um a couple years ago, and uh obviously you you I wasn't gonna go anywhere I had to visit, right? You can't be that close, and uh everything else be damned. And uh I just remember how surreal it was, you know, um the the heaviness that's in the air, the quiet, yeah, you know, um, and and then and then taking a look at the terrain for the first time, um, you know, kind of taking a 360 view of it and just man, this would have sucked so bad, you know, like this would have sucked so bad, you know. Um, yeah, just what what those what those men accomplished, you know. Um anything that you say is an understatement. You know, when you look at what they were faced with, just incredible. Um, yeah, those uh the a special breed to say the least.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. You go to places like Point Duhawk and it like it's you can't find the words to describe what like how the how the fuck do these kids do it? Young men, like charged with something as impossible as like you're gonna scale these cliffs, and then you're gonna fight your way through. It's like, dude, like we think we had it hard.
SPEAKER_02Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's yeah, it puts you on your heels a little bit, you know. Like, just when you think you're Tommy Tuff Knuckles, you take a look at that and you're like, man, that this would have sucked.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, what do you mean it goes 200 meters away from the objective? I want to be 10.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Oh man, well, I'm super glad you got to do that. Dude, sincerely, that's awesome.
Don’t Quit And Build Your Vertical
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's uh I got uh I've been blessed, man. That's it's something when I look back at this journey, dude. It's like, fuck, man, like all of this started with uh you know a hobby podcast, the opportunity. It's that's what I always tell people, man. Like, it's just don't quit. Like everybody, every like, dude, I'm I'm nobody in this space. I'm just I'm out here doing something that I enjoy and I love and and putting great resources and getting make great friends like yourself. And uh it's just when it boils down to it, like this can be a conduit for amazing opportunities. Like, whatever you're doing in a creative space, man, like just keep going. Don't quit. Don't don't quit and find ways to innovate and make different verticals for yourself. Like, and that's something that I feel like nobody's talking about in the veteran space. Like, uh it blows my mind. People will like we were talking about a little bit earlier before we started recording. People want to you just try to like put on this front and this face of like I've got it all figured out. And like, I don't, like, I I don't like I owe it to you guys listening to tell you I don't have figured it out. I haven't figured it all out. I don't have all the answers. The only true resource I have to tell you is uh take care of yourself, focus on your family, and don't quit. Like, if if I wrote a book tomorrow, it would just be like I have found success and not quitting. A journey by Denny. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Full send. Yeah. At all times, yeah. Just yeah, just send it. Just send it. I think we have such an aversion to failure, you know. Um, and or we, you know, we conceptualize we, you know, uh, you know, it all of it sounds cliche when you say it like, you know, the only true failure is if you didn't try it all, right? And you know, so uh, you know, get out of your own head and just send it, you know, and especially if it's a positive, you know, if something that you're doing is, you know, positive for yourself, positive for uh, you know, if the creation itself is, you know, has a positive message or a positive impact, then you you then you can't lose. Yeah, you know, um, in my opinion, right? The world according to me. I've been wrong before. Once or twice, you know.
SPEAKER_01Allegedly, not not truly sourced out, maybe failed a couple of times. But dude, tell me about the show, dude. Tell me everything you got going on.
SPEAKER_02So the show's great. We took a little bit of a break just because I was traveling so much. Like I said, they all for good reasons. Um, we were out in Washington State for a week, um, California twice, uh um down at the uh recon training center there with the Marine Corps, going to see the the old homies. Um we were watching uh Dakota Meyer graduate uh from from BRC to become a reconnaissance marine. Yeah, that was good. That was a good time. Um man, he had to uh, you know, and shout out to Dakota. He uh I went through when I was 28 and I felt like I was 100 years old. You know what I'm saying? Like I think he's 38, you know, and and to go through that, I was like, bro, you're you're tougher than I ever want to be, you know. Um, that had to be brutal. And and of course he was extremely successful, but uh no, the show is going great. I just had uh Ethan Gardner from uh the fast company Marines IG page. Uh he was he was here just a couple days ago. Um, so we've got a bunch of episodes in the hopper, and uh we're back to uh the regular scheduled programming, right? Where we're dropping episodes. And uh yeah, it's been great, man. I'm I'm absolutely having a blast with it.
SPEAKER_01Hell yes, dude. Yeah, I the studio space, the storytelling, the guests, it's fucking incredible, incredible program, man. I I really I know when I when I was there when we did our episode together, I told you, I'm like, dude, like it's it's an incredible thing you've built. Like, yeah, I enjoy the heck out of it. And I I think the audience uh agrees with me, dude. Like what you guys are doing, what you're doing, it's incredible. And I think we need more stories, dude. And we don't need uh people are always uh chiming in and saying we don't need another veteran podcast. I will I will say politely, I disagree. I think we need more stories. I disagree. I think we need more stories. We need to be able to tell all the stories. I'm tired of and I'm sorry. Like, look, I'm not this is just my opinion. Don't take it uh like I'm I'm directly attacking you. I'm just the um the idea that we need more podcast focusing on negativity, it's just it's it's it's overplayed, man. Like, I'm not gonna name the names, I'm not gonna name the shows, but for the past year, there's been a couple that have just been insufferable, man.
Veteran Podcasting Without Rage Bait
SPEAKER_01Like just non-stop. Like the the title of the episode is could literally be like, This guy's a piece of shit, and here are like 10 reasons why. And I'm like, I agree with you, dude, but man, can you we just just talk about something good?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's exhausting. It's exhausting. It's I couldn't agree with you more. It's exhausting, and and there's a ton of veterans, obviously, in the community that I interact with here, um, you know, in Dixon. And uh I mean, I'm not gonna throw a number on top of it, but I can't count how many times, you know, the veterans will come up and be like, what is the deal with this? Yeah, I'm like, I don't know, I don't do it. I I refuse to do it. You know what I'm saying? Like it's uh I I just I find no utility in it. And I get it, there's obviously a market for it, but it it's just not my uh I'm not into it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I I think when you dive too much into the like it can be enticing. I see I've seen a few people fall victim to it and and they made a they made their choice and it was a gamble, but like I think there is a psychology to it. Like we want the clickbait, we want the rage bait, and you you can, but then you find yourself creating content for a very specific niche niche of people that just want to be miserable, they just want to hate on something. And the moment you pivot from that, the moment you try to like do something outside of that, they're not gonna click and they're gonna be angry at you, and like we want more of this, the same old you know, negativity slop. And it's like you're gonna run out of people to criticize it, or yeah, you're gonna piss somebody off, and then they're gonna come after you. And it's like there's no that there's no backing in it, man.
SPEAKER_02There's well it it in two man, you know, you if you ask me, like your front porch better be fucking spotless. You know, uh it's like it just better be. Yeah, you know, and like what and the number one thing besides kicking ass that veterans like to do is what bitch, yeah, you know, we're super good at it. We're we're super good at it, you know. Uh huh. Yeah, um, it's our favorite pastime. If we're not handing somebody the business, we're fucking bitching about, you know, whatever. And uh, so it's it, yeah, everything, you know. My bag of gold is too heavy, so to speak, right? And uh, you know, yeah, so uh like and I I'll be honest, it is entertaining, yeah. But I can have a guilty pleasure and and not, you know, I just like I said, it's just not my style, you know, and I and I know it's not yours either, you know. Uh and I and I wish all those dudes the best of luck. I hope they crush it, you know. Um, I haven't ran into anybody in a long time that I, you know, kind of wasted negative feelings on, so to speak, right? But uh yeah, there's there's different ways to get across the street.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, it's um you got to develop your own voice. And I think I was talking to a buddy of mine that's getting in the space, and I I told him, I'm like, hey, you know, one of his questions was like, Well, how do I go about creating? Like, what do I what do I go into? I'm like, that's kind of the wrong question, dude. Like, what do you want to create? Like, what are you excited to do and engage with and lean into that? I think that you it's a slippery slope when you get into the space of trying to create something for an audience. And if you're not happy and not passionate about what you're doing, then it's gonna become a chore. And nobody did. I I get it. Like, there's there's a lot of things in life that we all gotta do we don't like. The last thing I want to do is get in front of a camera or get get in front of a mic and record something I don't I'm not passionate about. Like fake the funk, yeah. Like I'm not gonna do the insurance podcast, it's just not me.
SPEAKER_02Well, and and I think too, and I I know you'll agree, like it's uh it's so transparent. You know, it's um, you know, um it's unless you're a professional actor, so to speak, right? Like you can see through it. It's it's not genuine. And you know, um uh once again, in my opinion, I don't, you know, genuine content is uh there's always gonna be critics, right? Um, but genuine content you can you can never, you know, nobody can ever take that away. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? If it's authentic, right? Um, you can love it, you can hate it, but you can't say it wasn't authentic, right? And so I think that's something to strive for.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think it's um a lot of the elements and storytelling that from you know, I read a lot, you know, shout out to you, Scott Mann, um, rooftop leadership, storytelling. I've taken a lot from him. Uh I bugged that man a lot. There's been a lot of emails. I apologize, Scott. Uh, but you've been an incredible motivator in understanding the craft of storytelling, understanding your ability to tell a story, but also draw a story from somebody uh in this space. And and you know, when you sit down and talk with somebody, you have an incredible knack to do that. You have an incredible like I admire your ability to sit down and pull that thread and and and guide that person. That's something that is incredibly entertaining. You're not getting the same episode uh when you sit down and watch your YouTube or listen to your stories on on Spotify. Uh it's different. And I think that more people need to take that approach. I think it's we've gotten to, I think within our space, in a veteran space, there's a lot of like the narratives seem to be almost the same, and people don't want to take the time to be like, hey, how do I get a new, fresh take? It's like if you hear or see the same person in several shows, like I don't want to hear the same story. Some people do have that approach, and they'll sit down and be like, hey man, I this is not you know, I'm not sending you, I'm not gonna be asking you the same questions that you had on this show. This is gonna be, we're deep diving into your background, to your life. Like, don't come here with a prepared uh pitch, so to speak. Like, I want you to just be authentic in the moment. Like, and I feel that's hard to do these days.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think you know, obviously you have to listen uh intently, you know, um just listen harder than you've ever listened anything before, you know, um, and and really try. I just really sit back and try and, you know, uh every syllable, you know what I mean, and and kind of from every angle of the compass and try and put myself in their shoes and then and then understand, you know, ask those questions to help me understand um if I'm on the mark or if you know, if I was on the mark or not, you know, and uh inevitably, um, you know, you uh like when I sat down with you know with my father and did the episode with him. Uh I mean, obviously I've known that man in my whole life, you know, and uh he was one of the hardest interviews I've ever had to to to you know conduct because I had to I mean I've got 46 years of questions I've asked that man, you know, and so I I I had to I had to work hard, you know, um to to kind of think of new and interesting ways to to kind of pull that story out of him. And inevitably I I heard new information, you know. Uh and so, you know, yeah, it's well, and one, I appreciate the compliments. Um, you know, I paid for them well in advance, right? And uh yeah, yeah. But yeah, we're both shocked. Uh but uh it's uh yeah, I I'm having so much, I sincerely having so much fun doing it. Um it just I don't I don't want to, I wish I could do it every single day. And obviously that's that's the goal, you know, is is uh is to get somebody in here uh on a daily basis. And uh I don't think we're too far away from that. And like I said, it's uh, you know, obviously having the opportunity to come on your show and the other shows, you know, it's uh it has been a very, very warm and welcoming community. Um, and I don't think enough can be said about that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. It's incredible. Um, there's a lot of people out there that are doing incredible work, not just in their own space of like, you know, content creation, their own shows, their own podcasts, but what they're doing behind the scenes to get other people opportunities. Like I've been a I I've been, you know, I've been on the receiving end of that. Like having phone calls for people like, hey, I got information about you from this other person. I'm not gonna throw their name out there. Uh they're a little private, but um, it's incredible. And then I try to do the same and try to, you know, always bring in other individuals to whatever endeavor I have the opportunity for. And like it's it's awesome to like have that mindset of like, okay, you know what? Like, this opportunity came to me because somebody else was willing to advocate and promote me behind closed doors. I gotta do the same for the next person. Um that's like the that's the thing that's like incredible about this journey. Like, you don't have to be Joe Rogan, guys, you don't have to be Sean Ryan to help somebody else out. And when you realize that that's a true gift, that's a true thing, like
Authentic Storytelling And Better Interviews
SPEAKER_01imagine somebody being able to like cash a paycheck, get a steady gig, or or get a huge sponsor because you helped them get that. That's a fucking win. That's the thing that now I'm excited about. Um everything, everything coming your way is incredible, but figure out a way that you can help somebody else. Like, I'm not I'm not talking multi-million dollar deals. Sometimes it's just a lead, a client lead. Like, whatever you can, whatever you can do to help somebody else out, like put that at the forefront of your mind. Like, I don't think that there's enough being said about building the next great community of veteran entrepreneurs, innovators in this space. It's all coming from us, being able to champion other people, man. Um, so don't forget that. Don't if you're listening out there and you have an ability to help another veteran, dude, dive into it. And I know we're a difficult community to support. I I get it. But uh the guys that you can support, the guys in gals you can rally around, help them out. It's great to see that. Uh, I I love seeing it on social media and I love seeing it in work out in the real world. Like, dude, like I have an incredible opportunity coming up this week. And the first person that I reached out to to bring him on this trip with me was another former uh seventh group dude. I'm like, if I'm gonna get an opportunity to do something fucking cool, uh, I'm not gonna gatekeep. I'm bringing one of the boys with me. Sure. Um, but uh it's definitely it was funny. Reaching out and sending the information, it was like, wait, is there a catch? No, no, free trip, dude. Um, and then I'm booking the tickets and everything. And like my number one thing was like, I want to be able to come back here to go to church with my family. The only returning flights were first class. I'm like, dude, this guy's gonna think that I'm like fucking balling and sure as shit. I said that's awesome. I say, and mind you, like, I don't have first class money, but I have I have points, people. I have points, and I dumped all those points just because, you know, hey, getting back here, being with my family for church, that's uh that's a big priority. But the first thing my buddy says is like, what the fuck, dude? Like for realism again. Yeah, don't that I I'm not I'm not like that. It's just I had points, and these are the only flights. So uh yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Don't mention it to you. Don't mention it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm just as excited as you are. Trust me.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. My private charter was booked.
SPEAKER_01I couldn't uh, you know, I'm normally a group eight motherfucker. I just recently upgraded to the the the right Amex card, and I've I remember uh uh getting seated before group five was a new experience for me.
SPEAKER_02It's I never thought I would be that guy. I never thought I would, and now I'm like the worst guy. I'm the worst. I'm like global and I want and why? I don't know what it is. I don't know what it is, you know. Uh when you when you travel as much as we do, obviously, it's uh it's the little things, right? And uh yeah, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, uh I would have looked at me now and been like, what's that guy's problem? You know what I mean? Like group two just isn't gonna cut it. Like, we gotta do something here, you know.
SPEAKER_01I'm you know, I'm still, you know, I've I realize that some places, you know, normally you get the uh we're not boarding individuals that need extra assistance, or any active duty service members, but some places like Atlanta will be like, hey, any uh current and former service members, please feel free to board. I'm like, yes, I will. But uh yeah, uh the other day I was not in Atlanta and I was traveling and they're like, and I I didn't check my my ticket and then I uh logged on, looked at it, and I saw my group. I was expecting it to be like group eight, like normal. It's like group two. I was like, fuck yeah, I made it.
SPEAKER_02Moving up, yes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's the little things, yeah.
SPEAKER_02It is it is the little things, yeah. Like there was a time, and I'm not proud of this, but uh there was a time where I'd walk, I'd walk on there like I was the air marshal. You know what I mean? And and I just would, you know, like I'm borderline opening the door, you know. Uh you know, I'm like just I don't have time for this shit. Like, just let me on the plane, you know.
SPEAKER_01Do you do you know who I am?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. I do get I yeah, I got called out once, you know. Um, because you know, they don't check, they don't really check, you know. One time they checked, they're like, You're group seven. I was like, I didn't even know there was such a thing, you know. Sorry, my bad, dude.
SPEAKER_01You know that exact scenario runs through my mind, and I and I have a vivid like daydream of that happening to me. I'm like, I don't want that, I don't need that shame, I don't need that. No, sir.
SPEAKER_02It was a long walk to the back of the line, I can tell you that. Yeah, it was long, yeah, it was a long walk. I and I was giggling to myself. I was like, it only took 50 times for somebody to, you know. So now I'm back to following the rules.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I'm sorry. Uh due to my service connected disability, I'm not numbers anymore. Oh, yeah. So sorry, sir. Yes, I'm sorry. Sorry. Yeah. It's service connected. TBI. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02TBI, I can't hear, you know. It's yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. My biggest thing is just uh I need an aisle seat and uh I'll I'll be fine wherever I go. Um, but now that I travel with a tons of camera equipment, dude, nothing gets me fucking irritated more than like, hey, we're gonna have to check your carry on case. I'm like, fuck.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah. Like, I'd rather not.
Travel Laughs And Small Gratitude
SPEAKER_02I'd rather not. Yeah. It's yeah.
SPEAKER_01It's it it's go ahead. Yeah, I did learn a secret though. If you tell them that fucking thing is jam-packed with lithium batteries, they will let you keep it. Ma'am, this entire case is lithium-ion batteries.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And they didn't care for that at all, I'm sure. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So like, oh, absolutely. Please carry that.
SPEAKER_02They they uh they also get a real big case in the ass if you um open the uh the the bathroom door prior to the the the light going off. You know, you flip up the little, you know, and slide it over, like, and yeah, I had a uh a united employee, they didn't care for that at all. You know, they were on tight ship. Yeah, he was like, You're not allowed to do that. I was like, okay, sorry, you know, uh don't put me on the no fly list, you know. Group two is bad enough, you know.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god, dude. Yeah, that's uh, you know, life's good when these are the things that we complain about. Um, that's uh that was that was not so uh, you know, these things didn't happen for Denny early on, but I am I am blessed and I am so grateful that uh these are the difficulties that I deal with.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we yeah, I I tell people all the time I have no legitimate problems, I have minor inconveniences from time to time. Yeah, but uh yeah, I've got absolutely nothing to bitch about.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's that's good. Life, life is good, man. Um, but dude, before I let you go, tell us about nomadic research,
Nomadic Research Gear And Giveaway Details
SPEAKER_01what you got dropping soon, because um, surprise, surprise, my current giveaway that's live right now, uh, I'm gonna be adding a bunch of other miniature giveaways from now until October 31st. So I'm looking to buy goods for every from every veteran entrepreneur out there, business that you guys like. Uh, I'm looking to buy some of their goods and give them away throughout the the entirety of the giveaway. So you're not only potentially gonna be winning that row giveaway price package. Um, you could just be notified that you won one of the miniature giveaways. And um, I'm looking to give away something from nomadic research. So uh tell us what you guys got in development, my man.
SPEAKER_02Let's do it. Yeah. So we've got a crossbody sling bag that's in development right now. Um, I've been carrying the prototype around for probably the better part of two years now, which is about standard before we, you know, go back to the, you know, fix this, tweak that. Um, you know, always striving, you know, once again, uh I want, you know, I don't care who the customer is. I, you know, the only thing that keeps me up at night is, you know, customer, you know, uh dissatisfaction, so to speak, right? And so tons of time and effort and attention to detail put into the equipment. Um, we've still got the jackets on the shelves, the raid packs are moving, the TTL bags as well, our executive travel bag is moving well. Um, and uh yeah, it's there's we're just we're trugging along and and all things are good.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, hell yeah, dude. Yeah, crossbody has become my day-to-day thing because now I'm carrying multiple phones. I'm about to add a third phone for another client. That's um that's insane. That's where I'm at in my life. Um, so yeah, a crossbody. I feel like a bearded out debutante uh carrying the the different bags that I'm carrying. Like it's I can no longer do a fanny pack. Now I have to carry all the shit around me. I'm like, I need space for a pistol and numerous phones. This is um this is getting complicated. So I might be in the market for another one.
SPEAKER_02It's first line equipment. It really is. It's it's first line equipment, man. Um, and and the guys used to make fun of me all the time. Uh, you know, because I whether it was a schedule or you, you know, like battery packs, you name it, it was just, you know, when when you're always on your feet and you always seem to be on the move, right? Um, you know, but obviously looking cool is a big part of it. So, you know, I didn't want to carry around an Aldi's bag or something, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, you know, and uh yeah, so that crossbody uh that crossbody sling is kind of the way to go, right? Um and just to kind of keep all that first line equipment where it needs to be.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. Yeah, dude. Uh I'm a big fan. I will be uh perusing the catalog and I'll be, you know, I get to choose. I'm gonna choose what I give away because um that's just me. Uh so but if you guys have any input, any ideas of what you would like, feel free to send it to me in a DM or email at sechoppodcast at gmail.com or send it on Instagram. That's where I'm most active. But do me a favor, don't send stuff to my personal account. I manage my multiple accounts. And the last one that I check is my personal Denny Caballero 117. Shout out to Master Chief, greatest superhero out there. I don't really manage that one as much. Um, so if you want to get a hold of me, just get on Security Hall. That's the one I'm always on. Um, and that hence why I haven't posted anything on my personal, because like I am managing 50 million things on a daily basis, and like that's like the last thing I can check and post on. So if you want to get a hold of me, hit me up at sechallgmail.com uh or sorry, seccall podcast gmail.com or the Instagram page. That's where I'm most active. Degan, thank you so much for jumping on the show, man. I I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your time and I love what you're doing, man. I I think that here shortly you're going to eclipse a lot of us. And uh when you're out there uh telling your big story on the bigger podcast, I I hope that I can send you some money to mention the show and give us a plug. You damn right, brother. I appreciate you. But before I let you go, man, where can people connect? Where can they follow you and uh give you some support?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so nomadicresearch.com uh online, and then we have the nomadic research podcast on Instagram, the YouTube channel, uh, and then the nomadic research on on Instagram as well. Uh and yeah, it's uh I'm managing the uh the podcast page and uh we're uh we're we're on everything, I think, except for well, yeah, X, Twitter, uh yeah, or X and Instagram, we're on all of it. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, you you can find us for sure.
SPEAKER_01Oh yeah. There you have it, folks. Do me a favor, pause the episode's over. You know the spiel. Click the links in the episode description, support my guy. And uh, if you would like to win one of his incredible bags or jackets, or just want some swag, let me know what you like in the comments. Uh, you can leave a comment on the Spotify. I've been a little more active checking Spotify lately. It's a lot. I don't have a, you know, my I don't have an assistant yet. I have uh some people helping behind the show, but um, surprise, surprise, they're all remote workers and they don't handle the day-to-day uh stuff. It's just me. So please leave us a comment, let us know what you like, but most importantly, follow my guy, follow his show, subscribe to his YouTube, help him grow so we can help inspire the next generation of great veteran podcasters, storytellers, you name it. Uh, thank you guys for tuning in. Degan, thank you for being here, and we'll see you all next time. Until then.
SPEAKER_02Thank you, brother. Appreciate you.
