Episode 19 - Donald McAlister (Army, OIF, OEF Veteran)

08/06/20 • 183 min

Tim K. sits down with Retired Command Sergeant Major Donald McAlister in Western Massachusetts, while on set of an upcoming psychological thriller called “The Curse of Sinchanee.” Don first served in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, already a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, then subsequently thereafter deployed to Afghanistan three times. He served in the Army for 24 years, and his most difficult deployment was his second to last to the hellish landscape of the Arghandab River Valley. That particular area was an integral portion of Taliban-held territory, surrounding the holy city of Kandahar. The lessons learned in that valley over the course of his unit’s time there would be ones that have followed him even to the present day. Tim and Don discuss spending decades in the Army, how to balance family life, and what it’s like to reintegrate back into society after dedicating most of your adult life to the military. Throughout the podcast, you will hear Mac speak about the value of taking a “tactical pause,” something he learned while in basic training. This followed him throughout his lengthy career, culminating at a point when his paratroopers needed his knowledge the most. This podcast is sponsored by Team House Studios. They are a production studio committed to empowering military veterans both in front and behind the camera. Co-founded by Filmmaker Steven Grayhm and Former NFL player and Green Beret Veteran Nate Boyer. Through real hands on training, Team House Studios aims to create an equal opportunity environment for all genders, races and backgrounds. Also, be sure to check out Mac’s Man Cave, which features our guest. Since retiring “Mac” continues to stay involved in the Veteran community, devoting most of his time to serving others through various non-profit efforts. His presence as a highly-respected leader makes him a highly-coveted asset in the veteran community. Mac’s Man Cave is a deep dive into transitioning out of the military, with guests from both the civilian and veteran communities. These episodes can be viewed presently on Instagram Live either at instagram.com/donald_mac_mcalister/ or instagram.com/macsmancave/.

Previous Episode

Episode 18 - Jacob Phillips (Army, OIF Veteran)

Host Tim K. Sits down in Starkville, Mississippi with Jacob Phillips, who served as a Captain in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq. His service to this country is a usual marker for the servant minded attitude of the entire Phillips household, but so was his path in the arts. Although he didn’t follow the most conventional route to get there, his vocal talents have now taken him to television sets around the world with appearances on Sunday Night Football, the NFL Hall of Fame, commercials for Infiniti, Snap On, Jim Beam, the Special Olympics and Mossy Oak. Still, if you spoke to Jacob in person he’d probably fail to mention any of this, instead speaking about the resilient love of his father who tragically passed after a battle with cancer some years ago, and a faith in Christ that defines his journey on this earth. You’ve heard him in our intros and outtros on every single podcast. He also has a highly entertaining and informative podcast called, “The Cultured Bumpkin.” Jacob discusses his life growing up in rural Mississippi, his time as an officer in the United States Army in a line unit, what it takes to be a successful VoiceOver artist, and the tenants of living in unshakeable faith. You can check out Jake’s work at www.jacobphillips.net, on his podcast The Cultured Bumpkin, Instagram: @jakephillips116, and Facebook: @jcjacobsonaudio.

Next Episode

Episode 20 - Trinidad Garcia (USMC)

In this episode, host Tim K. sits down with Trinidad Garcia, the founder of Trinidad 3 Jeans. Marine, Devil Dog, the first to fight, hard charging, dragon slaying, elite killer to.... Fashion designer? It may not be the typical transition for a veteran but then again there is absolutely nothing typical about the veteran community. The beauty of the individual American serviceman’s (or woman) diverse backgrounds is something we’ve spoken of quite often on this podcast and in the projects. Trinidad Garcia’s path from a successful career in the Marine Corps to a connoisseur of all things denim was anything but conventional but that’s probably part of the allure of his brand. Non-conventional, extreme attention down to every single stitch, and sourced as truly All-American denim. Tim and Trinidad speak on Garcia's initial foray into fashion and the struggles experienced in starting a business. They also discuss the success he's now found, and how he's giving back to the community that's given him a new lease on life.