Semper Try

sempertrypodcast

Hosted by Marine veteran Bill Lowe, Semper Try celebrates the people who never quit — the veterans, volunteers, coaches, and everyday people who keep showing up when it matters most. Through honest conversations, laughter, and a few lessons learned the hard way, Bill shares stories of service, community, and good old-fashioned effort. Because trying beats quitting — every time.

  1. ١٧ أغسطس ·  فيديو

    032 P1: Earning the Title B4 the Crucible: Cliff Sosamon USMC

    This week on the Semper Try Podcast, I sit down with fellow Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon for Part 1 of a three-part conversation. Cliff grew up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by military history. His dad served in the Air Force during Vietnam, and Cliff knew early on that college wasn't his path — he wanted to become a Marine. He shipped to MCRD San Diego in October 1992, and that's where our conversation gets really interesting. Cliff went through Marine Corps boot camp before the Crucible existed, and just five years later, my experience earning the title Marine looked completely different. We talk about the yellow footprints, becoming a squad leader, Edson Range, the hikes at Camp Pendleton, mess and maintenance week, and what those final weeks of boot camp looked like in 1992. Back then, there was no Crucible followed by an Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony. Cliff remembers still being called a recruit while standing on the graduation parade deck in his Dress Blues. It wasn't until the final moments of graduation that he heard the words telling him he had earned the title Marine. We also get into Cliff's military family, the flags hanging in his office, and the Congressional Veterans Commendation Award he received for continuing to serve the veteran community after leaving the Corps. And this is only Part 1. Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.

  2. ١٠ أغسطس ·  فيديو

    031 P3: How 1 Misstep Can End a Marine Corps Career

    One wrong step. That's literally all it took to change the direction of Erik Monarca's Marine Corps career. In Part 3 and the final part of my conversation with Erik, he talks about a training accident that started with simply stepping the wrong way. What seemed like a foot injury he could push through eventually became something much more serious — doctors discovered two crushed bones in his foot, leading to surgery and ultimately changing his plans to stay in the Marine Corps. But getting out was only the beginning of the next chapter. Erik talks about losing the purpose and structure that came with being a Marine, trying to find his place in civilian life, and finally beginning to get himself back on track. Then September 11, 2001 happened. Erik was still in the Individual Ready Reserve, and just days after the attacks, he received a phone call telling him to report for a physical. Suddenly, the possibility of putting the uniform back on became very real. We also talk about where life eventually took him, the veteran community, why our stories matter, and how a 2 a.m. conversation between a few Marines eventually became the Chat 62 Podcast. And since Erik and I recorded this conversation, that shared belief in veterans supporting veterans has grown into something new: V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow, a Veteran Podcast Network. Erik, Jonathan Cole of The Bunkhouse, and I are the three co-founders — and we're just getting started. This is the final part of Erik Monarca's story. Your story matters. Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting. V.E.T. — Voices Empowering Tomorrow. Securing the Hope for Tomorrow. CONNECT WITH ERIK & CHAT 62: Facebook Instagram Spotify https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/erik-monarca?utm_source=chatgpt.com Amazon Music Email: chat62podcast@gmail.com

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Hosted by Marine veteran Bill Lowe, Semper Try celebrates the people who never quit — the veterans, volunteers, coaches, and everyday people who keep showing up when it matters most. Through honest conversations, laughter, and a few lessons learned the hard way, Bill shares stories of service, community, and good old-fashioned effort. Because trying beats quitting — every time.