Battle Ready (Audio)

NowMedia Television
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

Join armed forces veteran Rickey Chavez on Battle Ready as he shares battle-tested principles of success and how to apply them to both business and everyday life.

  1. 1 day ago

    Battle Ready (Aired 06-25-26) From Navy Service to Insurance Leadership with Jason Volkert

    In this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Jason Volkert, Vice President of Insurance Sales at the Gibraltar Group and a U.S. Navy veteran, to discuss how military service shaped his approach to leadership, discipline, and business success. Jason shares his journey from joining the Navy after college to building a nearly 30-year career in the insurance industry. Together, they explore the lasting impact of military values, the importance of trust in leadership, and how serving others remains at the core of both military and civilian life. The conversation also dives into practical insurance advice, including how families can better protect their financial future, why reviewing policies regularly is essential, and the importance of building long-term relationships through honesty, transparency, and service. Jason also reflects on mentoring teams, leading with empathy instead of authority, balancing career and family, and preparing for a new chapter as an empty nester. Chapters (00:00:13) - Veteran Jason Volkert on Serving Our Country(00:05:10) - Military Service and the Civilian World(00:06:51) - Marine Corps members make their bed every day(00:08:42) - In the Elevator With Vice President(00:10:23) - Transitioning from the Military to School(00:12:00) - Welcome Back with NOW Media TV(00:12:27) - The #1 challenge in the insurance industry(00:17:37) - Insurance Sales Reps: Building Trust(00:21:14) - Military Insurance Agents: Be proactive in protecting your financial future(00:23:54) - In the Elevator With Your Team(00:27:18) - Real Estate Agent: Trust is the biggest(00:29:51) - What qualities do differentiate great leaders from average managers?(00:31:43) - A Real Estate Manager's Challenge(00:33:55) - Do Relationships Play a Role in Long Term Business Success?(00:35:25) - How To Motivate a Team During Uncertainty(00:36:22) - Military Insurance(00:40:50) - Should You Extend Your Car Insurance Coverage?(00:42:25) - Roof Insurance(00:45:17) - Military dads talk about the new chapter of life(00:47:00) - The Role of Family in Leadership(00:48:02) - Battle Ready: Growing Strong Through Challenges

    49 min

  2. 18 Jun

    Battle Ready (Aired 06-18-26) Financial Clarity, Tax Readiness & AI for Smarter Business Decisions

    On this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Kelly Coughlin, CEO of Everyday CPA, to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of business success: financial readiness. Together, they explore the critical difference between bookkeeping and financial clarity, why many entrepreneurs struggle with taxes and cash flow despite strong revenues, and how business owners can make better decisions by truly understanding their numbers. Kelly shares practical insights on tax planning, financial reporting, retirement strategies, business succession planning, and the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when relying on incomplete financial information. The conversation also examines how artificial intelligence is transforming accounting and financial management, helping small business owners streamline processes, reduce costs, and gain greater visibility into their operations.

    48 min

  3. 4 Jun

    Battle Ready (Aired 06-04-26) Building Future Leaders: Brave Conversations with Jasmine Davis

    In this episode of Battle Ready, host J. Rickey Chavez welcomes Jasmine Davis, Founder and CEO of Pretty Talk LLC, for an engaging conversation about youth leadership, character development, and the power of communication. Jasmine shares how her experiences working in juvenile justice inspired her mission to help young people build confidence, accountability, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills before entering adulthood and the workforce. Throughout the discussion, Jasmine explores the challenges facing today’s youth, including communication gaps, social media pressures, self-confidence issues, and the importance of developing strong character as a foundation for success. She also discusses her entrepreneurial journey, the impact of mentorship, and how meaningful conversations can bridge generational divides between young people and adults. Chapters (00:00:00) - Battle Ready: What Makes a Leader?(00:00:51) - Pretty Talk(00:01:30) - Pretty Talk With Jasmine(00:02:35) - Leadership gaps in writing and verbal communication(00:05:46) - On Character Development and Working With An Elder(00:09:35) - Teaching the Right Way to Lead(00:11:58) - Battle Ready: Jasmine's Purpose Behind Pretty Talk(00:16:34) - Pretty Talk: Reinventing the Career Path(00:21:05) - The Work of Raising Girls(00:24:21) - Relationship Development for Kids with Needs(00:29:28) - What Do You Do For Old People?(00:32:29) - How Social Media Affects Communication and Self-Confidence(00:37:00) - Ms. Jasmine Davis on How to Understand the Young Generation(00:42:52) - The Need for Alignment(00:44:35) - Do As I Say and Not As I Do?(00:45:46) - On the Changing Landscape of the Workforce(00:48:44) - Battle Ready

    49 min

  4. 29 May

    Battle Ready (Aired 05-28-26) Leading with Resilience, Inclusion, and Purpose with Vanessa Angulo

    In this episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Vanessa Angulo, Senior Director of Field Talent Acquisition at Sysco, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Vanessa shares her remarkable journey from recruiter to executive leader, discussing the lessons she learned through professional challenges, family hardships, and life-changing experiences. Together, they explore the importance of authentic leadership, creating inclusive workplace cultures, developing future leaders, and overcoming self-doubt. Vanessa also opens up about how personal adversity strengthened her commitment to supporting others, building high-performing teams, and fostering environments where people can thrive. Chapters (00:00:00) - Battle Ready(00:01:08) - Cisco Talent Acquisition Lead Vanessa's Inspiring Story(00:06:22) - Breast Cancer Survivor on Her Journey(00:12:13) - Supportive Leaders: How important is inclusion at work?(00:17:52) - Warehouse Delivery Company's efforts to increase women in operations(00:20:58) - What Do You Do to Create Inclusion in Your Organization?(00:24:27) - What Does It Do to Have Belief in Yourself?(00:26:46) - Leaders: How to Develop and Lead(00:34:18) - Strong Leadership Under Pressure(00:37:08) - What Made You a Senior Director at Cisco?(00:43:39) - How to Lead With Authenticity

    48 min

  5. 9 May

    Battle Ready (Aired 05-07-26) How Resilience, Mental Wellness & Leadership Build Stronger Communities | Shore Danny Interview

    On this episode of Battle Ready, Ricky Chavez sits down with Shore Danny, founder and CEO of Community Now, for a powerful conversation about resilience, trauma-informed leadership, mental wellness, and community healing. Shore shares her personal journey through adversity and explains how self-awareness, emotional support, and strong community systems help people move from survival mode into healing and purpose. The discussion explores leadership under pressure, workplace wellness, violence prevention, hope as a strategy for change, and practical ways individuals and organizations can build healthier, more resilient communities. From trauma recovery to coaching for cultural success, this episode delivers valuable insights for leaders, professionals, veterans, educators, and anyone seeking personal growth and emotional strength. Chapters (00:00:00) - Celebrating Resilience with SH Danny(00:01:07) - Understanding the power of resilience(00:04:55) - How to Build Resilience from Pain(00:10:32) - Avoidance and the Anxiety(00:11:53) - What is the first step to building resilience?(00:12:52) - Battle Ready: How to Handle Trauma in the Workplace(00:15:13) - What mistakes do leaders make when they ignore emotional and psychological realities?(00:22:28) - Violence Resilience and Community Inclusion(00:24:36) - Violence prevention and its causes(00:26:10) - Build a Plan: Your Real Estate Systems(00:26:39) - On the Need for Racial Justice(00:29:52) - Healthcare Programs and Trust Relationships(00:31:39) - Building a Safer, More Resistant Community(00:33:18) - Battle Ready(00:34:01) - Healing Purpose 6: Hope in Leadership(00:36:18) - What Does It Look Like to Heal From Survival Mode?(00:36:57) - Culture and the future(00:38:19) - Mental Wellbeing: The key to a sustainable future(00:41:27) - Self-inventory and Cultural Coaching

    45 min

  6. 30 Apr

    Battle Ready (Aired 04-30-26)Financial Discipline, Leadership & Smart Business Growth with CPA Keisha Rodino

    In this episode of Battle Ready, Ricky Chavez sits down with CPA and entrepreneur Keisha Rodino to break down the true meaning of financial leadership and discipline in business. This conversation goes beyond accounting—exploring how entrepreneurs can gain clarity, build systems, and make smarter decisions to grow and scale successfully. From tax strategies and cash flow management to the dangers of DIY finances and relying on tools like ChatGPT without proper guidance, Keisha shares real-world insights every business owner needs. Learn why having the right financial team, asking the right questions, and staying proactive can make or break your success. Chapters (00:00:00) - Lead With Strength, Discipline(00:01:00) - How an Accountant Helped Small Businesses(00:03:45) - Financial Discipline and Leadership(00:12:08) - Battle Ready(00:12:44) - Ask The CPA(00:20:51) - How to Prepare for the IRS Tax Season(00:24:12) - Starting a Business(00:34:22) - Tax Strategy(00:36:30) - Starting a Business(00:39:53) - How to Plan for Retirement as a Business Owner(00:42:26) - How to Balance Ambition and Discipline needed to grow your business(00:45:14) - Getting Everything Together for Starting a Business(00:46:07) - Becoming More Battle Ready financially

    49 min

  7. 23 Apr

    Battle Ready (Aired 04-23-26) Leadership Under Pressure – Why Training Isn’t Enough | Real Stories from SWAT to Business

    In this powerful episode of Battle Ready (aired 04-23-26), host Ruki Chavez sits down with Ryan Conn to break down the truth about leadership, discipline, and performing under pressure. From real-life SWAT experiences to high-level business leadership, this conversation reveals why training alone doesn’t prepare you for real-world challenges. Discover the difference between being trained and truly being ready, how “fail forward” thinking accelerates growth, and why situational awareness and self-discipline are critical in both life and business. Ryan shares intense frontline stories, leadership lessons, and actionable strategies to help you lead with conviction—not just credentials. If you want to build resilience, improve leadership skills, and learn how to act when it matters most, this episode delivers raw insight and real-world wisdom. Chapters (00:00:00) - Battle Ready: The Secret to Leading When Things Are Hard(00:00:52) - Ryan on Being Ready for the Day(00:04:44) - Was There a Moment early in your career when you realized credentials alone(00:10:39) - The Importance of Leadership(00:13:32) - Battle Ready: Fail Forward with Fear(00:19:13) - How to Be More Approachable and Coachable(00:19:43) - Ryan Khan: On the Growth Mindset(00:23:24) - Why Avoidance is So Expensive in Leadership and Business Growth(00:25:17) - In the Elevator With Ryan Kahn(00:25:57) - What is Situational Awareness?(00:27:15) - What Would You Do If You Were a Cop?(00:32:37) - The Secret to Talking To Others(00:33:06) - Pivoting Back to Leadership(00:36:01) - 5 Talents(00:37:20) - What is the Difference Between Positional Leadership vs Personal Power(00:40:08) - The Art of De- delegating(00:43:28) - Real Estate Coach: The Best Use of Your Time(00:47:55) - Ryan on Becoming Real Estate Battle Ready

    49 min

  8. 18 Apr

    Battle Ready (Aired 04-16-26) How to Master Engaging Presentations & Win Attention in Minutes

    In this episode of Battle Ready, host Ricky Chavez sits down with presentation expert Jeff Brandeis to break down the secrets behind high-impact communication. Learn why most presentations fail within the first 7 minutes and how leaders can capture attention, build authority, and drive real results. Jeff shares his proven ENGAGE framework—designed to transform boring presentations into powerful, conversion-driven experiences. From overcoming “death by PowerPoint” to using interactive techniques that keep audiences locked in, this episode delivers practical strategies you can apply immediately. Whether you're leading a team, pitching a product, or speaking on stage, discover how to connect, influence, and inspire action. Don’t miss these battle-tested tools to elevate your communication skills and stand out in today’s distracted world.

    48 min
See All (50)

About

Join armed forces veteran Rickey Chavez on Battle Ready as he shares battle-tested principles of success and how to apply them to both business and everyday life.

Information

More From NowMedia Television