The Pop Smoke Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tom
The Pop Smoke Podcast is about veterans having the wisdom and courage to seek out support when it's needed. To pop smoke in the military is to request an extraction because fighting on is no longer viable. In literal terms, colored smoke is sent into the sky so an evacuation team can find us and get us back to safety. After military service popping smoke becomes a figurative term. When the life we are living is no longer viable, we need to request an extraction to a safer place. Having the guts to put your hand up and say you need support is necessary to live lives of purpose and meaning and be leaders in our homes, churches, neighborhoods , and workplaces.
In this engaging interview, Joy Nguyen from Marsden shares her inspiring journey from Canada to Minnesota, her military family background, and her impactful work supporting veterans and community development. Discover how Marsden's diverse opportunities and commitment to social responsibility create pathways for veterans and community members to thrive.
Join us for a wildly entertaining podcast about… well, a whole lot of nothing—in the best way possible. Featuring Tom, Eric, Amos, and James, this lively panel brings unpredictable conversations, off-the-rails humor, and surprisingly thoughtful moments hidden between the chaos.
Each episode dives into a mix of space exploration, space technology, and space mysteries, before drifting effortlessly into pop culture, everyday observations, and whatever else catches the group’s attention. No script, no agenda—just four friends turning curiosity into conversation.
Expect laughs, debates you didn’t see coming, and stories that somehow connect the universe to real life in the most entertaining way possible.
In this inspiring interview, Tom McKenna, Eric Geesaman, and guest Bob Kelly share personal stories of overcoming adversity, the importance of community, faith, and personal responsibility, and how these values shape their work and lives. Discover practical insights on leadership, service, and building meaningful relationships that can transform your perspective and impact.
From a simple conversation with a homeless veteran to transforming an entire community - this episode shares the raw, heartfelt journey of how a small act of kindness sparked a movement. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected challenges, and defining moments that shaped nearly 15 years of service, from donated quilts in Wisconsin to building a dedicated space in Minneapolis. You’ll hear about the hilarious mishaps with an old RV, the evolution of outreach methods, and the unwavering dedication to veteran dignity.
Most veterans' journey to healing is filled with barriers, but what if the key to true transformation isn’t therapy or group therapy, but a powerful 5-week program that changes lives from the inside out? Jon Engfer, program director for Warriors Return, shares how a simple yet intense interpersonal development course is helping veterans rebuild purpose, resilience, and self-love, even after years of struggle.
Steve Sorensen is a dedicated Bible teacher and veteran who has served in various ministries and outreach efforts, including street evangelism and military chaplaincy. His life exemplifies how faith meets action in extraordinary ways. Steve’s journey from cultural Catholicism to passionate follower of Christ exemplifies how questions, setbacks, and real-world ministry shape true discipleship. He shares powerful stories—from street ministries helping prostitutes and gays to military outreach that reaffirmed his faith—and explains how these experiences reflect the essence of Jesus’ ministry: meeting people where they are, without judgment. Discover how authentic love and strategic relationships surpass mere church attendance in fostering spiritual transformation.
In this episode of the Every Third Saturday podcast, host Tom McKenna speaks with Nick Williams, the founder of Shear Hope Collective, a community initiative focused on providing haircuts and support to those in need, particularly the homeless. Nick shares his journey from working various jobs to discovering his passion for barbering during the pandemic. He discusses the transformative power of a haircut, emphasizing how it can uplift individuals' spirits and restore their dignity. The conversation highlights the importance of community service and the impact of small acts of kindness, such as providing haircuts to those who cannot afford them.
Join us on this episode of the Every Third Saturday podcast as we explore the transformative journey of veterans finding community and purpose after service. In this episode, Ben shares his personal story of overcoming isolation, embracing vulnerability, and building lasting connections. Tune in to hear how small victories and community support can lead to profound personal growth.
Eric and Tom bring it back to the basics and discuss what exactly ETS does to support veterans and their families. Topics discussed include supply distribution, Warrior's Return, the VREC, and other stuff.
Eric and Tom sit down with Jake Taylor. Jake is a former professional hockey player, dad, husband, and the founder of Strapped. We discuss his path from growing up in Rochester, MN, his hockey career, and his post hockey path to the life he is living today. Jake is honest and raw in his insights and relies heavily on his faith to help guide him on the path to supporting other players and helping them avoid some of the pitfalls he experienced. Jake is a long time friend of ETS and is a pivotal contributor to the Warrior's Return process.
Eric and Tom get up close and personal due to sharing a mic for this episode, but all is good amongst fellow Marines. The guys talk with Nate Boen, a realtor who has given back tens of thousands of dollars in commissions through the Homes for Heroes program, and Steve Brand, who also given back many thousands of dollars in fees to veterans, police, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers. This is a great episode to learn more about the VA Home Loan program and will clear up several myths about the home buying process. Steve Brand can be contacted at 612-386-5306 or Steve.Brand@valorhl.com, and you can reach Nate Boen at 612-669-0013 or TheBoenTeam.com.
Chandler has been a friend of ETS for many years. He is a strong advocate for veterans in Minnesota and is the State President of 2nd Brigade Motorcycle Club. 2nd Brigade runs a fundraising event each summer called the Bikers Against Soldier Suicide and they donate the proceeds to a different non profit each year. Chandler also supports veterans through his work at Lutheran Social Services and is an overall cool guy.
This is what happens when Eric and Tom have no guest and no agenda. Topics in this one include algorithms, dog stories, politicians who dont listen to veterans, a fish tale and Tom's fascination with strange Instagram videos. Hope you enjoy listening!
Today, Eric and Tom sit down with the Director of Growth and Marketing at Every Third Saturday. We delve in to Krista's interesting background, including teaching in Japan with no qualifications, life with a toddler, and accidentally running a 50K. Krista is a vital piece of the puzzle here at Every Third Saturday and her kindness and compassion shines through i all of her interactions.
Tom and Eric first discuss the worrisome education gap that inhibits veterans from accessing all of the resources available to them. The gap exists and is neither remedied from the military side or the veteran side. Second, they discuss the startling decisions being made by the MN legislature in St Paul. The decision to cut veterans funding from the current budget, while simultaneously establishing a veterans suicide initiative with little to no parameters or visible forethought is what gives politicians a bad name. ETS is 100% apolitical, this is bipartisan shenanigans that is threatening funding for successful veteran initiatives.
Eric, Tom, and Amos discuss a variety of topics such as veteran advocacy, the need for us to stick together, the effect of politics on veterans issues, and several uncalled for jokes about Tom"s old age.
Eric and Tom talk with Kayla Hiebert. Kayla has been around ETS since it's very beginning and been riding the wave ever since. From our days out in the VA parking lot, our RV fiasco, all the way up to present day, Kayla has been a part of it all. The daughter of a Marine, step-daughter of another Marine, brother of an Army veteran, and the wife of a currently serving Coast Guard Petty Officer, Kayla has a unique perspective on all things veteran. She is now on staff at ETS as Social Media Manager and continues to contribute to the heart and soul of ETS.
Eric and Tom sit down for an awesome conversation with Josh Guyse. Josh is a veteran of the US Army and is still serving in the MN National Guard. Josh candidly tells the story of his battle with mental health after several deployments, his stay in a VA psychiatric unit, work as a Registered Nurse, and finally the head of Veteran GIving at Duke Cannon. Duke Cannon is a fantastic company and they are famous for the Big Ass bar of soap. The company is also a generous supporter of veteran's causes including Every Third Saturday. We hope you enjoy the listen!
Jessi Mckenna is the Executive Director at Every Third Saturday and is in charge of "herding the cats". Jessi keeps everyone in their lane and ensures ETS runs smoothly and efficiently. She is also the spouse of our co-host, Tom, and she candidly discusses what it means to love a veteran who struggles with PTSD and soul wounds caused by military service. Jessi possesses excellent intuition and is able to diagnose problems before they become major obstacles to success. Thanks for listening to the ETS podcast!
Eric and Tom delve into the wild world of VA. Topics covered include Veterans healthcare, veterans disability compensation and benefits, VA home loan gaurantee, burial benefits and what to do if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Please ensure you contact an accredited Veterans Service Officer to ensure you receive the most accurate and pertinent information. We are not experts, just a couple guys who know some stuff and want to pass it along.
In this episode, Tom and Eric discuss the difficulty in reaching veterans who are isolating, self medicating, and even considering suicide. The 3 prong foundation of identity, community, and purpose, is a powerful concept and may be the key to supporting veterans as they navigate how to discover a new sense of self on the path to a life full of meaning and purpose.
Eric and Tom sit down and chat with Amanda Hooper. Amanda is an Army veteran who served in the Middle East, she is a mom, has earned a Masters Degree in Military Psychology, and is a Senior Outreach Specialist for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), and an overall cool person who brings energy and passion to supporting her fellow veterans.
Micah Ternet is a US Army veteran of multiple deployments, has a Master's Degree, is a world traveler, and entrepreneur. He is constantly on the lookout for his next opportunity and has the rare combination of smarts and guts that enables him to seize those opportunities. He is also no stranger to the struggles veterans face transitioning back to regular life and the profound impact suicide causes in our families and communities. We hope you enjoy this conversation. Be advised, there may be a couple of bad words in this one. Nothing you haven't heard before. :}
Eric and Tom sit down with Amos Ferrier. Amos served 15 years in the Army as a medic and saw a lot of tough stuff. Through it all he has remained resilient and is constantly doing the work to make something good out of the trauma he has experienced. Amos is a graduate of the ETS Warrior's Return course, and currently is on staff at ETS as the Internship Director and Coffee Shop Co-Manager. He is a funny guy, a complex person, and an awesome human. We hope you enjoy our conversation.
Tom and Eric spend some time shooting the shit with Kristy Janigo. Kristy is a Veteran Service Officer in Hennepin County, was elected to the Maple Grove City Council, is the Commander of the 10th district of the Mn American Legion, and an all around awesome advocate for veterans in Minnesota. Hope you enjoy our conversation!
In this episode, Tom and Eric go in to some detail describing what exactly ETS does and how we support veterans and their families. In completely unrelated news, they also discuss pizza toppings, sweet and dill relish, and hot dogs.
Tom and our guest co-host, James Kelley, discuss what it means to be in pain and how to live a fulfilling life despite chronic discomfort.
In this short episode, Eric and Tom discuss the current gaps in veterans services. Focusing on the impact of cooperation and attention, the guys openly wonder what the answer is to the pressing issue of too much help being available.
Eric and Tom sit down with James Kelley. James has an amazing story that exemplifies the resilience and character we value at ETS. The conversation covers James's service in the military, his terrible motorcycle accident, his road towards addiction to pain medication and subsequent use of heroin. James has risen from the ashes, recovered from multiple negative life experiences, and has become a shining example of what recovery looks like. It is a story of difficulty and redemption, and we hope you enjoy listening.
In this episode, we delve into the book "The Good Fight", written by Eric Geesaman. The book uses Eric's 10 years in the Marine Corps as a comparison to the battle we fight when coming back to civilian life.
Eric did an amazing job illustrating the difficulties of coming home and the struggle to regain a sense of self and purpose. Hope you enjoy this listen to Eric's amazing story.
Tom and Eric talk about the historical relationship between America and her veterans. The turbulent relationship between society and its warriors has been affected by the community, the advent of TV, politicians, and the shift from the draft to an all-volunteer force.
Episode 1 is an intro to the Pop Smoke Podcast. We cover areas including why we are starting the podcast, what is it all about, and a few tough topics that need to be discussed. The podcast episodes will be less than 30 minutes and cover a wide range of topics and dig in to some of the very tough challenges facing veterans and their families.
This is the first episode of the Post Traumatic Growth podcast. In this episode, we lay out who we are, what we mean when we talk about "soul wounds", and how they are the real causes of veteran suicide, substance abuse, and relational challenges . No guest or co-host in this edition, just a guy laying out an alternative view of a very difficult issue.