Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything

Dan Clark and Phil Petersen
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

What happens when you take two friends retired from the Navy and give them an open mic? You get Catalyst Comms. From the high-stakes environment of military life to the beautiful chaos of the civilian world, your hosts dive into Anything & Everything. They bring the unique "different but similar" perspective that only years of service can forge—sharing a common code of ethics but wildly different takes on how to live it out. If you’re looking for insightful banter, unexpected deep dives, and a healthy dose of wit, all while keeping it real, you’ve found your frequency.

  1. 5d ago

    S2 Episode13 - Every Day is an Interview

    From logging timber in the rugged mountains of western Virginia to navigating dual-military life in the wilds of Alaska and rising to Technical Division Director (GS-15), Mike Sherer’s path is a masterclass in resilience, deliberate preparation, and quiet grit. In this episode of Catalyst Comms, Phil and Dan sit down with Mike to unpack the pivotal chapters that built his no-excuses mindset: Roots & Early Lessons: Growing up rural with no military background, earning his first paycheck logging in the mountains, and the grounding influence of his grandfather.The Air Force & Alaska: Trading the East Coast for the frontier of Alaska, navigating dual-military family dynamics, and balancing service with raising kids.Bouncing Back from Pink Slips: Facing layoffs head-on, stepping out independently as an instructor, and transforming career uncertainty into a blueprint for resilience.The Federal Ascent: Transitioning from contractor back to civilian service, mapping out a direct target on GS-15 from day one, and the leadership philosophy driving his work in Information Technology.Discipline in the Field: Mike’s passion for hunting, his mindset on gear and calculated preparation, and how time in the backcountry parallels professional execution.Lighter Moments & Legacy: Dan puts Mike on the hot seat with a couple of inside-track questions (including the infamous rule of what happens after saying "STOP" three times), followed by the core philosophy that ties it all together: why every day is an interview.Whether you are navigating a career pivot, climbing the federal or corporate ranks, or seeking grounded advice on handling setbacks, Mike shares candid takeaways on discipline, adaptability, and earning your seat at the table every single day. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode13 - Every Day is an Interview

  2. Sep 27

    S2 Episode12 - Friendly Neighborhood Spidey

    What happens when you combine corporate finance, international education, two research tours in Antarctica, and a full Spiderman suit? You get Kevin Parrett. Rooted in Hardin County for generations, Kevin has spent the last two decades teaching business and IT at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, expanding his students’ horizons well beyond Kentucky borders. Having traveled to 76 countries, from the resilient streets of Havana soon to the ice shelves of the South Pole, Kevin joins Dan and Phil on the show to unpack the value of global perspective, the joy of bringing unlikely groups together, and why suiting up as the friendly neighborhood superhero is the best service work of all. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode12 - Friendly Neighborhood Spidey

  3. Sep 20

    S2 Episode11 - New York New York

    From Brooklyn roots and early heartbreak to the pinnacle of military command and a second act under the spotlight, retired Marine Colonel Frank Cubillo’s life is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Frank joins us to reflect on his remarkable 37-year journey from an enlisted Signals Operator—toting a powder-blue Samsonite suitcase aboard the USS Spruance—to rising through the ranks as a Warrant Officer, LDO, and eventually Colonel commanding the 3rd Intel Squadron in Okinawa. Alongside his Cold War reconnaissance missions and deckplate leadership lessons, Frank opens up about the personal milestones that shaped him: a four-year pen-pal courtship with his wife Cindy that led to a 50-year marriage, the perseverance required to build their family, and navigating the unexpected moments of parenthood with unconditional love. Finally, Frank takes us inside his thrilling post-military reinvention. Tracing his path from civil service karaoke nights to center stage as a professional Frank Sinatra tribute artist, he shares what it’s like to swap the uniform for a tuxedo, perform alongside full symphony orchestras, and truly do it "His Way." www.franksingsfrank.com 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen! and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode11 - New York New York

  4. Sep 13

    S2 Episode10 - Chemo Killer

    What does it take to stare down a terminal diagnosis and choose to keep moving forward? In this powerful episode, we sit down with athlete, author, and speaker James Logan to explore his extraordinary journey of resilience, purpose, and relentless grit. Diagnosed in 2024 at age 59 with Stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer and given a 6-to-24-month life expectancy, James refused to let the timeline define his destination. Now well past that initial prognosis and navigating his 27th treatment, James continues to train for IRONMAN triathlons, share his message of courage, and prove that adversity doesn't have to mean defeat. James unpacks his signature DSSP framework—Discipline, Sacrifice, Suffering, and Pain—explaining how decades as a carpenter, roofer, and endurance athlete built the mental armor he needed to confront the darkest moments of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries. We dive deep into his 13-month journey writing his new book, Just Keep Tri-ing, his mission to raise $100,000 for the IRONMAN Foundation, and why he firmly believes that "Terminal was not the end, it was the beginning." Whether you are facing a life-altering health battle, a professional hurdle, or simply looking to eliminate complacency from your daily routine, James’s story offers an unforgettable masterclass in what it truly means to live boldly. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode10 - Chemo Killer

  5. Sep 6

    S2 Episode9 - Pulling for Clarity Pulling for Little Lives. Remembering Big Hearts.

    Some episodes are interviews.This one is family.This week on Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything, Dan & Phil sit down with Phillip Bewley and Payton Clark for a conversation that is deeply personal to everyone at the table. It begins with David Bewley—Phillip’s father and Payton’s grandfather. A hardworking man who loved his family, his community, and truck and tractor pulling. After David passed, his family found a way to keep his memory alive through something he loved: the David Bewley Memorial Truck & Tractor Pull. But then another loss changed this family forever. On August 4, 2022, Vance Cambell Clark, Payton and Lane’s son and the grandson of Dan, Melinda, Phillip, and Julie, was stillborn. Two lives. Two generations. One family determined that remembering the people they love could also mean helping someone else. Today, the Memorial Pull benefits Clarity in Vance’s memory. Clarity serves women, men, babies, and families in our community with free pregnancy services, ultrasounds, parenting education and mentoring, material assistance such as diapers and car seats, and even maternity housing for moms who need it.Learn more about Clarity. In this episode, Phillip shares the man behind the name David Bewley, while Payton talks about her son Vance and what it means to hear his name, remember his life, and see something positive being done in his honor, as well as the difference Clarity is making. There are trucks and tractors. There’s horsepower, competition, food, family, and plenty of noise. But underneath all of it is something much bigger. Love. Loss. Family. Community. Remembrance. And purpose. 4th Annual David Bewley Memorial Truck & Tractor Pull Saturday, October 3, 2026 Hardin County Fairgrounds – Elizabethtown, KY Gates open at Noon | Pulling starts at 5 PM Adults $15 | Kids 8 & under FREE. All proceeds support Clarity in memory of Vance Clark. This is one of the most personal conversations we've had on Catalyst Comms. We hope you'll listen.And on October 3rd, we hope you'll come pull with us.Pulling for Little Lives. Remembering Big Hearts. There are a lot more conversations coming. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode9 - Pulling for Clarity Pulling for Little Lives. Remembering Big Hearts.

  6. Aug 30

    S2 Episode8 - The Mile High Club

    What does it take to build a career in the skies when the people in charge tell you that you don't belong? In this episode, we sit down with seasoned corporate aviator Captain Bob to unpack his journey from growing up in Arizona to commanding top-tier aircraft well above commercial flight paths. Bob shares the candid story of facing flight school professors who tried to have him removed from the program, the critical decision that kept him enrolled, and how he turned early doubt into fuel for a decades-long career. We pull back the curtain on the corporate aviation industry, exploring: The Reality of Corporate Aviation: How flying corporate differs from the standard airline path, from unpredictable schedules to managing 18-day stretches on the road without losing your personal life.Life Above 40,000 Feet: What the world looks like from the flight levels where corporate jets cruise, and how flight dynamics shift at extreme altitudes.The Pilot's Cockpit Mindset: Balancing high-stakes confidence with essential humility, knowing your aircraft limits, and mastering multiple airframes.Mentoring the Next Generation: Key advice for aspiring pilots and what Captain Bob would say today to the student pilot who almost walked away.Whether you are an aspiring aviator, a seasoned aviation enthusiast, or simply looking for an inspiring story about resilience and mastering a craft against the odds, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at what it truly takes to earn your wings. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode8 - The Mile High Club

  7. Aug 23

    S2 Episode7 - Recap IV

    Six guests. Six completely different lives. And that's the point. We aren't looking for a certain type of guest. We don't care about titles, fame, followers, politics, or whether everybody agrees. We care about the story. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes Phillip Petersen cries. Sometimes we get serious. Sometimes Phillip Petersen OCD kicks in. Sometimes the conversation goes somewhere none of us expected. But every time, we try to get beyond the surface and meet the person behind the story. And we're just getting started. Thank you to Matt, Devi, Kelly, Bryan, Calvin, and Monique for trusting two retired Navy guys with your stories—and thank you to everyone who continues to watch, listen, share, comment, and support what we're building. There are a lot more conversations coming. 🎙️ Catalyst Comms: Anything & Everything Everybody has a story. We just give them a place to tell it. Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode7 - Recap IV

  8. Aug 16

    S2 Episode 6 - Standing in the Gap

    On this episode of Catalyst Comms, Phil and Dan sit down with Nurse Practitioner Monique Reeves for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation about resilience, survival, and a lifetime on the frontlines of care. From her small-town roots in Quanah, Texas, to watching her mother recover from a brain tumor, to starting nursing school at age 17, Monique’s work ethic was forged early. She opens up about surviving and escaping a severe abusive marriage, rebuilding a stable life with her husband Sean, and how those personal trials shaped her approach to raising her five children. With 26 years in healthcare, Monique takes us inside the raw reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities, standing in for families during "Last Walk" ceremonies, and reflects on the systemic shifts that followed. She breaks down her current work in hospice care, balancing deep empathy with emotional compartmentalization to help patients die with dignity. Finally, Monique shares what drove her to step into pediatric mental health following her daughter’s experience with bullying, how she tackled a massive caseload gap, and why she took to social media to share her viral "Mental Health Minute" Reels. https://www.facebook.com/HubCityPsychiatryClinic/videos/ Got a killer story, a wild recommendation, or think you belong in the hot seat for an episode? Don’t hold back—hit us up at catalystcomms26@gmail.com and let’s make it happen!

    S2 Episode 6 - Standing in the Gap
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

What happens when you take two friends retired from the Navy and give them an open mic? You get Catalyst Comms. From the high-stakes environment of military life to the beautiful chaos of the civilian world, your hosts dive into Anything & Everything. They bring the unique "different but similar" perspective that only years of service can forge—sharing a common code of ethics but wildly different takes on how to live it out. If you’re looking for insightful banter, unexpected deep dives, and a healthy dose of wit, all while keeping it real, you’ve found your frequency.

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