Battle Ready (Audio)

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. Jul 2

    Battle Ready (Aired 07-02-26) From the Battlefield to Business Success

    In this inspiring episode of Battle Ready, host Rickey Chavez sits down with Mark Parrish, a U.S. Army combat veteran, McDonald's franchise owner, and leadership expert, to explore how military discipline, resilience, and personal growth can shape extraordinary business success. Mark shares his journey from serving in Iraq to leading 22 McDonald's restaurants with more than 1,200 employees, revealing how leadership begins with leading yourself first. Together, they discuss the importance of personal vision, lifelong learning, building strong organizational culture, embracing discomfort as a path to growth, and creating systems that develop future leaders. Mark also explains how the same principles that build successful businesses can strengthen families, inspire communities, and create a lasting legacy through intentional leadership and continuous self-improvement. Chapters (00:00:00) - Battle Ready(00:06:25) - McDonald's CEO on the Leadership Challenge(00:08:39) - Leading Others: A Vision Board(00:10:59) - In the Elevation of Leadership(00:12:09) - Combat Veteran Mark Parish on His(00:15:16) - Ex-Serviceman on Why He Retired(00:18:40) - In the Elevator With Ricky(00:20:09) - transition from the military to McDonald's(00:21:29) - How to Lead Your Family(00:23:44) - MCDONALD's Executives: Transition From the Military(00:26:23) - McDonald's: The Employer of Last Resort(00:31:26) - McDonald's Training: Everything You Need To Know To Win(00:35:58) - McDonald's CEO on Executive Leadership(00:40:26) - Why Reading is Essential for Long Term Executive Success(00:46:30) - What Would Some Guidance Be For People Struggling To Figure(00:48:36) - Be Prepared for the Future

  2. Jun 25

    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

  3. Jun 4

    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

  4. May 9

    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

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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.

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