THE EMBARK PODCAST
THE ORDINARY BECOMING EXTRAORDINARY
Adam DeRito interviews people from all walks of life with the mission of telling their stories. How positive people are making a positive impact on our planet.
Over the course of my life, I have had a plethora of experiences. Some good, and some bad. I have traveled around the country, worked the land, served in our nation’s military, and always believed in giving back to the communities we live in.
Throughout the past few decades of my life, I've discovered one common factor: We all have a story to tell. All of us have experienced love, loss, success, and failure. I've made it my passion and my mission to find these amazing people. I'm going to tell their stories, embrace the positive impacts they are making in the world around them, and learn as much as I can in the process.
I am honored to have the opportunity to share these stories with you. My hope is that you and I can collectively formulate a greater understanding of the human race, and thus we can better understand ourselves. I will be on this endless journey; seeking people out to tell their stories that will inspire you.
EPISODE 1: SSG COLIN SESEK
SSG Colin Sesek spent four years on active duty as a combat medic with the 82nd Airborne Division, and is currently a Special Operations Medic assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group.
He has deployed to numerous locations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa; both as a soldier and as a Blackwater Contractor.
In his civilian job, Colin is also a public school educator. Join Colin on his journey of discovering who he is, and how we all can find our “middle” to make the world a better place.
EPISODE 2: MICHELA MORELLATO
Meet the italian television personality who married an American paratrooper, survived the world of human trafficking in the global entertainment industry, and then ensured that Major General Joseph Harrington (former AFRICOM Commander) was removed from his position in Vincenza, Italy. Co-Founder of the Never Alone Advocacy Group, Michela constantly helps others seek justice who have been retaliated against by the United States military.
Follow: MichelaMorellato
Instagram: @michelamorellato
Make sure to read her book “A Talent for Trouble”
EPISODE 3: CHEF ANDREW GRUEL
Episode 3: Chef Andrew Gruel
American Chef Andrew Gruel is originally from New Jersey, and is a television personality currently based in Orange County, California. He is the founder, CEO, and executive chef of Slapfish, a seafood restaurant based out of Huntington Beach, California; Big Parm, a pizza restaurant in Tustin, California; and Two Birds, a chicken restaurant in Irvine, California.
Recently, Chef Gruel engaged with MSNBC television host, Stephanie Ruhle, where he was indirectly accused of using the American Rescue Plan’s Paycheck Protection Program to underpay workers, only to benefit himself. As a highly successful business owner who has raised over $400k to help struggling restaurant owners during this pandemic, and one who has not had to lay off a SINGLE employee, Chef Gruel is a model citizen and business owner who has demonstrated that exemplary leadership and determination can solve more problems in today’s country than big government politicians can.
Follow: Chef Andrew Gruel
Instagram: @AndrewGruel
Twitter: @ChefGruel
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EPISODE 4: DANA BOLLEN
Who is Dana Bollen? The freaking manager for the incredible American Band from Massachusetts; PIEBALD! Dana and I randomly met in Denver at a concert when I took an infamous video of him jamming on the cowbell with the very band he manages! Dana is a world traveler, entrepreneur, creator and host of the “Two Week Notice Podcast”, and of course, the manager of PIEBALD! Join us as we talk about the music that made us, why music is just plain awesome, and why the most important life lesson we can learn from Dana and PIEBALD is that “We just need to rage more with our friends!”
Follow: Dana Bollen
Instagram: @danafuggenb @twoweeknoticepodcast
Interested in coming on the podcast with your story of making a positive difference?
Instagram: @Adam.DeRito
EPISODE 5: SGT KARLI KLINGER
Unbeknownst to most of the American public, not everyone who joins the military is a trigger puller, or a Navy SEAL. In fact, over 90% of the American military is composed of just ordinary people, performing extraordinary tasks. Meet SGT Karli Klinger. Originally a medic in the Wyoming National Guard, she decided to push her limits and achieve her dream job: An active duty Army Flight Paramedic. A survivor of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and even overcoming members of her own chain of command telling her she would never amount to anything; join me as I discuss with SGT Klinger about personal resilience. That when someone tells us NO, that it just makes the fire inside us grow exponentially!
Follow SGT Karli Klinger
Instagram: @Karli.Klinger
EPISODE 6: CASEY MAURO
Dancer on land and fish by sea, Casey is a blend of intellect and embodiment. She holds a degree in Biology/Neuroscience, Yoga Therapy YTRx-500 and NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Casey worked as a neuroscience research assistant at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine NYC, while pursuing a career as a professional dancer, model and actor. In the early 2000’s, she starred as one of the decoy’s for Chris Hansen’s “To Catch a Predator” in her hometown of New Jersey where she helped take over 30 pedophiles out of our society. She moved to Los Angeles where she continued her performance career and finding more balance and quality of life back from NYC burnout and lack of self care.
Years of physical injuries, concussions, anxiety, and taking life too seriously has led her to create a program to self healing and daily routines and rituals to balance the nervous system with a toolbox of both Western and Eastern Medicine modalities.
Casey has combined her love for movement, breathwork, neurophysiology, nutrition and yoga into a private practice as a holistic health program to guide others to improve their health to increase vitality and finally let their inner superhero come out and play.
Follow Casey Mauro
Instagram: casey_mauro
Email: cmauro732@gmail.com
TikTok: CMauro732
EPISODE 7: AMY FRANCK
Ms. Amy Braley Franck began her career as a Department of the Army Civilian in July of 2013 as a Victim Advocate and has held the position of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Sexual Assault Program Manager for a 2- and 3-star Army Service Component Commands. Ms. Braley Franck has been identified on two separate occasions as a Whistleblower for her actions to protect her clients, as a catalyst for change. Ms. Braley Franck holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Business from the University of Maryland. Ms. Braley Franck is credentialed through NOVA D-SCAAP as Level IV Military Advocate. She is a certified Child Abuse Investigator and Nationally certified Forensic Interviewer, conducting interviews for local law enforcement, Army CID, FBI and Homeland Security and has been tendered an expert witness in Child Molestation and Abuse hearings.
Ms. Braley Franck pioneered and managed the first Tele-Medicine Model Child Advocacy center in Columbus, Georgia through a partnership created with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She previously worked with the Child Abuse Specialists at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta providing professional development instruction to medical providers on recognizing and responding to child abuse and maltreatment.
Ms. Braley Franck has been successful in writing grants for funding programs, developing and managing budgets and supervising reporting requirements. She has also been recognized by GEN Ray Odierno serving on his Sexual Assault Advisory Board and GEN Mark Milley in her Strategic Plan addressing Sexual Assault and Harassment. In 2015, her efforts championed to open the first Sexual Assault Resource Center in Italy under the leadership and support of LTG Darryl Williams. Ms. Braley-Franck has over 15,000 hours of victim advocacy and has conducted over 3,000 interviews of children/adolescents who have been sexually abused or witnessed violent crimes. She has given lectures at the National Organization of Victim Advocates Conference on providing Advocacy Services.
Follow Amy Franck:
Twitter: @Neveraloneadvo1
Instagram: @Neveralonesoldiers
Website: http://www.neveraloneadvocacy.org/
EPISODE 8: AUTUMN SCHLIMMER
Autumn Schlimmer joined the Navy with one objective; to become a Master of Arms and to become the best canine handler that she could be. Receiving high accolades during her initial entry training and all through canine handler school, she arrived at her first duty station and was immediately instructed to dye her naturally blonde hair. Forced to work graveyard shift and her canine taken from her without justification, her shipmate accused her of drug use without any evidence, nor drug test. Within ninety days of her first assignment, she was kicked out of the Navy without an actual justification. For the past decade, Autumn has been fighting the Naval Board of Corrections of Military Records to give her a proper discharge, appeal her service records, and still be able to serve as a canine handler in the civilian world. In a remarkable feat of personal resilience, Autumn has become an avid knifemaker, motorcycle rider, and still works with explosives detection within the K-9 Community.
Follow Autumn Schlimmer
Instagram @fraulinek9 and @heyautumndontfall
EPISODE 9: NICK SHELTON
If the Dos Equis man could be manifested in real life, it would be Nick Shelton. Nick is a communication and social strategy coach, helping introverts, shy and socially awkward people, upgrade their lives, and lifestyles. Nick grew up as a shy guy in Texas, so shy in fact, that his teachers thought he was deaf / mute and put him in a special needs class! Ironically, it was here where he learned some sign language. A complete introvert, Nick wanted to elevate his social circle, and his life. However he had no idea how to do it. So what did Nick do? Through trial and error, Nick developed a step-by-step method for social networking, and elevating one’s lifestyle. Over 20 years, Nick has accumulated all these experiences, and wrote a best selling book “An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination”. Want to sail around on a yacht? Drive around in a Mazzerati? Hang around with jet pilots? Nick’s superb methodology breaks it all down step by step and gives you the tools to elevate your own life, and achieve the unexpected. Be seen. Be known. Be remembered.
Follow Nick Shelton
LinkedIn: Nick Shelton
Instagram: @realnickshelton
YouTube: Nick Shelton
Website: www.connectedintrovert.com
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EPISODE 10: CAPT KAYLA HODGES
Kayla is moving into uncharted waters transitioning out of the Army after eight years of active duty and four years at West Point and decided to document everything as she started down this path. She researched what exactly to do, where to go, and how to get started, and began writing it all down.
She learned so much by simply talking to people, networking, Youtube, and reading, and became deeply appreciative that she had been able to access this collective wisdom. So out of genuine gratitude and a desire to learn to write, she thought it could be helpful to share her experiences with others as well.
Kayla left for the United States Military Academy in 2008 after graduating high school. She entered the Army as a second lieutenant (2LT), and about 12 years later, she was a washed up captain (CPT), very clearly unhappy and unfulfilled, and ready for an adventure.
After eight years in the active duty Army, Kayla had just finished her time as a company commander and was desperately in need of a change. She had known for several years that her plan was to leave the Army after company command. How can one live a healthy life that is personally meaningful, and serve in some capacity with the passion and skills that she could humbly offer?
“Happiness” isn’t what we want or need. That is an oversimplification of the problem. Unfortunately, it often seems we confuse this yearning for meaning with status, wealth, labels, and impressive accomplishments.
Follow Kayla Hodges
Instagram: @kaptain.kayla
Website: www.acaptainslog.com
EPISODE 11: TWYLA DELL
Twyla Dell is a local Kansas City author, an environmental leader and fuel transition historian. Having written five environmental books, she is podcasting and blogging on reducing gasoline use. Transitioning from gasoline to sustainable energy and Kansas City history are her passions. She worked for the EPA and offered The Environmental Leadership Program for business leaders, teachers and students in Kansas City, Missouri.
Twyla is an experienced speaker. She graduated from Antioch University Graduate School, with a Ph.D. in environmental studies in 2009.
“We are one fuel away” Twyla Dell Ph.D.
For more info on our guest Twyla Dell -
Twitter: @Dell_Twyla
Website: www.twyladell.com ,
Visit Fuelingchange.org , to see all of her blogs.
EPISODE 12: ELISA RHYNEDANCE
Elisa Rhynedance is a military brat natively from Virginia. Her siblings are both West Point graduates, and Elisa is a graduate of the USAF Academy from the Class of 2009. After completing her five years of service, she experienced some difficulty in her transition to civilian life. From there she discovered her passion in coaching competitive athletics. Since then, she has become a Human Resource Manager for Rise Athletes, and talks about all the important aspects of the current athletic culture in America today.
For more info on our guest Elisa Rhyndance:
Twitter: @Rhyndance
EPISODE 13: ANASTASIYA ANICCIMOV
Anastasiya Aniccimov is committed to raising awareness about the different types of abuse on her podcast The Bad Mom Podcast by giving survivors of abuse a chance to tell their story without being humiliated and shunned as society treats these uncomfortable conversations. She's got a vast array of experience from immigrating here from a Soviet country, military service, and motherhood. Her mission is to prevent abuse from perpetuating in our youth for a better future for the next generation through education. The Bad Mom Podcast is available on all platforms.
Follow Anastasiya Aniccimov:
Instagram: @thebadmompodcast
Website: www.linktr.ee/thebadmompodcast ,
EPISODE 14: MRS. BETTY LUTHER
Who is Betty Luther? Well, she is my maternal grandmother! Why would I interview my own grandmother? At 97 years old, and born only 12 years after man’s first flight, as well as the sinking of the Titanic; “Nanny” as she is infamously known as in my family has seen A LOT during her life! From witnessing the Great Depression, marrying a sailor during World War 2, the Korean War, the Civil Rights Movement, man landing on the moon, the assassination of President Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and only living a few miles from where the World Trade Center was hit on 9/11; she has even lived long enough to see the end of the war in Afghanistan. She provides her insight to the meaning of life, the secret to happiness, and the gratitude of living a long life as a proud American. We all need a little more patriotism in our lives, and she’s got 97 years of it!
Interested in coming on the podcast with your story of making a positive difference?
Instagram: @Adam.DeRito
Music: @YetiTears
Song: The Portal
Produced By: @HonorHillTactical
EPISODE 15: ADOS ACKTUAL
Ados Acktual is a memelord, and a shit poster.! So good in fact, the Sergeant Major of the Army even slid into his Direct Messages on Instagram! Ados Acktual is a good ol’ southern boy who has proudly served his country for over 15 years, and is still serving in the Army National Guard. An 11B by Army birth, he has become a lover of machine guns, and a leader within the NCO ranks. A combat veteran, and pure motivator, we discuss a lot of difficult topics in this episode. So for those who are offended by strong language, and military jargon; this episode may not be for you. So, you should definitely listen to it anyway because we are talking about some major issues at hand. From Afghanistan, to the current state of our military, the memelords are addressing major issues in the ranks, and are the only ones advocating for true change in our military while holding leadership accountable in the shadows of social media.
Follow Ados_Acktual:
Instagram: Ados_Acktual
Interested in coming on the podcast with your story of making a positive difference?
Instagram: @Adam.DeRito
www.adamderito.com
Music: @YetiTears
Song: The Portal
Produced By: @HonorHillTactical