The Next Level

At Ease: The Guide to a Smooth & Successful Military Transition with Emily King Grandinetta, MCC

Emily King Grandinetta is Master Certified Coach, behavioral scientist, organizational consultant, and author. She has over 20 years of experience coaching and consulting with commercial, government, and non-profit organizations. Emily currently leads Grandinetta Group, providing individual and team coaching to public and private sector organizations. She has a master’s degree in organizational development from Johns Hopkins University and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.

Emily led military transition coaching programs as president of King Street Associates. Her private practice also provided individual and team coaching to clients including Booz Allen Hamilton, Fannie Mae, AARP, Sodexo, Comcast, and Merck, among others. Her work on behalf of Veterans received acknowledgment from President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, and General Lloyd Austin (ret).

Emily’s forthcoming book, “At Ease: The Guide to a Smooth & Successful Military Transition,” addresses the real challenge for service members of finding a new purpose and mission after the military. The book is a proven, practical guide to a smooth and successful military transition for both individuals and organizations.

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss: 

• Why Emily became involved with helping veterans with their military transition and how it grew into a passion
• Key findings from Emily’s first book, “Field Tested”
• Emily’s writing process she went through to publish “At Ease”
• The Accelerated Military Transition course and other resources that accompany the new book
• What companies can do to best support their military veteran employees

You can find more information about the book and course at military.grandinetta.com. To connect with Emily: emily@teamperformanceinstitute.com

 

WHERE TO LISTEN 

Listen here: https://teamperformanceinstitute.podbean.com/ 

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and the TPI YouTube Channel. 

Feli From Germany

Feli From Germany is a Munich native who now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. She moved to Cincinnati for an exchange semester during her undergraduate studies in 2016 and, after traveling back and forth between Germany and the United States for a few years, became a permanent Ohio resident in 2019. Feli is a YouTuber, podcaster, and content creator who shares about cultural differences between Germany and the United States, things she likes and dislikes about living in America, and other experiences she has had as an expat living in the US. Since starting her YouTube channel 6 years ago, Feli has produced over 400 videos and gained almost 600,000 subscribers.

Hailing from Munich, Feli knows all about one of the most well-known German festivals, Oktoberfest! She chats with Jon Sanchez, CEO of Team Performance Institute, and Ken Bloom, founder of Hacker Herren, a group of over 500 men that come together annually to attend Oktoberfest, about the event and her unique perspective as someone who grew up attending with her family and friends.

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss:

• How Feli found herself living full-time in Cincinnati and working as a content creator
• The target audience for Feli’s videos and podcasts
• What Feli thinks about Oktoberfest-themed festivals hosted in the United States
• Her perspective on the international travelers in attendance at Oktoberfest in Munich
• Advice for Americans who want to go to Oktoberfest
• Ken, Jon, and Feli’s thoughts on how the festival has changed over the decades

Connect with Feli!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FelifromGermany

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felifromgermany/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felifromgermany

Website: https://felifromgermany.com/

Part 2: Lessons in Leadership with Mark Greene

Mark Greene is passionate about building networks and guiding high performers in their new careers. A former Navy SEAL, his experiences offer invaluable insights into the human spirit’s resilience and the power of support and community in navigating life’s transitions. Despite facing a career-ending injury in football and dropping out of college, Mark’s resilience led him to become a Navy SEAL. He completed BUD/S in 1997 and served on SEAL Team FIVE from 1997 to 2002. After graduating from Officer Candidate School in 2004, Mark served as a Sniper Instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Sniper School, Assistant Officer in Charge of SEAL Team EIGHT, and Detachment Officer in Charge of Special Boat Team TWENTY. In 2008, he earned his MBA in Defense Focused Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, and then served as Officer In Charge of SEAL Team EIGHT. Since transitioning from the military, Mark has dedicated himself to supporting those in the Special Operations community in their journey to civilian success. He is an esteemed author and speaker, and his story will resonate profoundly with your audience, providing both inspiration and practical wisdom for facing life’s toughest challenges. Mark is the author of “UNSEALED: A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Mastering Life’s Transitions.” Amid his accomplishments, his true happiness lies in being a devoted father to four wonderful children. 

 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss:  

• Mark’s upbringing as a military brat and his experience playing college football 

• His journey from flunking out of college to becoming a SEAL 

• Mark’s experience at BUD/S and his mindset and approach to the preparation and training 

• The lessons learned as an instructor at Naval Special Warfare Sniper School and how Mark grew as a leader 

• Mark’s leadership style and how it has evolved throughout his career and life experiences   

Connect with Mark: 

• https://www.themarkgreene.com/ 

• On all social media platforms @themarkgreene 

 

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.  

 

To book Mark as a Featured Keynote Speaker for your next event, please visit https://teamperformanceinstitute.com/keynote/.

Part 1: Lessons in Leadership with Mark Greene

Mark Greene is passionate about building networks and guiding high performers in their new careers. A former Navy SEAL, his experiences offer invaluable insights into the human spirit’s resilience and the power of support and community in navigating life’s transitions. Despite facing a career-ending injury in football and dropping out of college, Mark’s resilience led him to become a Navy SEAL. He completed BUD/S in 1997 and served on SEAL Team FIVE from 1997 to 2002. After graduating from Officer Candidate School in 2004, Mark served as a Sniper Instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Sniper School, Assistant Officer in Charge of SEAL Team EIGHT, and Detachment Officer in Charge of Special Boat Team TWENTY. In 2008, he earned his MBA in Defense Focused Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, and then served as Officer In Charge of SEAL Team EIGHT. Since transitioning from the military, Mark has dedicated himself to supporting those in the Special Operations community in their journey to civilian success. He is an esteemed author and speaker, and his story will resonate profoundly with your audience, providing both inspiration and practical wisdom for facing life’s toughest challenges. Mark is the author of “UNSEALED: A Navy SEAL’s Guide to Mastering Life’s Transitions.” Amid his accomplishments, his true happiness lies in being a devoted father to four wonderful children. 

 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss:  

• Mark’s upbringing as a military brat and his experience playing college football 

• His journey from flunking out of college to becoming a SEAL 

• Mark’s experience at BUD/S and his mindset and approach to the preparation and training 

• The lessons learned as an instructor at Naval Special Warfare Sniper School and how Mark grew as a leader 

• Mark’s leadership style and how it has evolved throughout his career and life experiences   

Connect with Mark: 

• https://www.themarkgreene.com/ 

• On all social media platforms @themarkgreene 

 

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.  

 

To book Mark as a Featured Keynote Speaker for your next event, please visit https://teamperformanceinstitute.com/keynote/.

Part 2: Fostering Community Through Farm-To-Table Dining with Todd Hudson

Todd Hudson is the Executive Chef and Owner of the Wildflower Café, a farm-to-table restaurant in Mason, Ohio. With over 15 years of kitchen experience, Todd can prepare some of the best food you've ever had, regardless of how exotic your tastes, and he does it all with fresh local products. His roots lie in southern cooking he learned from his grandmother. Todd and his Café have received many accolades, including Top 40 Chefs Under 40, a feature in "Best Chefs America" A Chefs Guide to Top Chefs, a feature in the "Chefs Collaborative 20th Anniversary" Cookbook, "Best Burger" Cincinnati Magazine 2010, "Certified Humane Restaurant" World Society for the Protection of Animals, "Best Restaurants in the Midwest" Midwest Living Magazine 2011, 2012, and "Best Fresh Meal" CityBeat 2010, and many more. In 2019, the Wildflower Café was recognized as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s “Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America”. Todd is a wonderful husband and active dad. He resides on his farm with his wife Jenna and his two rockstar children, Dylan and Griffin.  

 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss:  

• How Todd’s grandmother served as his inspiration in the kitchen and in life 
• The story of how Todd got his start in the restaurant and made the decision to open the Wildflower Café 
• The importance of sourcing organic ingredients and Todd’s passion for facilitating a return to agriculture 
• How the restaurant has evolved since it opened in 2007 
• Todd’s purpose now and the resilience required in his profession as an Executive Chef and Restaurant Owner 

 

Connect with Todd and the Wildflower Café: 

Website: https://linktr.ee/wildflowermason 

Instagram: @wildflowermason 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WildflowerCafeMason 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WildflowerCafe 

 

The Wildflower Café is located at 207 E Main St, Mason, Ohio, and is open Monday - Saturday 4-9 pm.  

  

Listen here: https://teamperformanceinstitute.podbean.com/  

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.  

Part 1: Fostering Community Through Farm-To-Table Dining with Todd Hudson

Todd Hudson is the Executive Chef and Owner of the Wildflower Café, a farm-to-table restaurant in Mason, Ohio. With over 15 years of kitchen experience, Todd can prepare some of the best food you've ever had, regardless of how exotic your tastes, and he does it all with fresh local products. His roots lie in southern cooking he learned from his grandmother. Todd and his Café have received many accolades, including Top 40 Chefs Under 40, a feature in "Best Chefs America" A Chefs Guide to Top Chefs, a feature in the "Chefs Collaborative 20th Anniversary" Cookbook, "Best Burger" Cincinnati Magazine 2010, "Certified Humane Restaurant" World Society for the Protection of Animals, "Best Restaurants in the Midwest" Midwest Living Magazine 2011, 2012, and "Best Fresh Meal" CityBeat 2010, and many more. In 2019, the Wildflower Café was recognized as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s “Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America”. Todd is a wonderful husband and active dad. He resides on his farm with his wife Jenna and his two rockstar children, Dylan and Griffin.  

 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss:  

• How Todd’s grandmother served as his inspiration in the kitchen and in life 
• The story of how Todd got his start in the restaurant and made the decision to open the Wildflower Café 
• The importance of sourcing organic ingredients and Todd’s passion for facilitating a return to agriculture 
• How the restaurant has evolved since it opened in 2007 
• Todd’s purpose now and the resilience required in his profession as an Executive Chef and Restaurant Owner 

 

Connect with Todd and the Wildflower Café: 

Website: https://linktr.ee/wildflowermason 

Instagram: @wildflowermason 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WildflowerCafeMason 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WildflowerCafe 

 

The Wildflower Café is located at 207 E Main St, Mason, Ohio, and is open Monday - Saturday 4-9 pm.  

  

Listen here: https://teamperformanceinstitute.podbean.com/  

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.  

Ken Bloom: Hacker Herren Legend

Ken Bloom is the founder of Hacker Herren, a group of over 500 men that come together annually to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Over the decades, Ken and the group have built a community and a brotherhood that embodies “Gemütlichkeit”—the communal joy experienced at the iconic German festival. Ken and Jon explain how the group came to be and share stories and memories from over the years. As the Hacker Herren saying goes... “You think you know...but you have no idea!” Prost! 

 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss: 

• Ken’s first trip to Oktoberfest in 1992 and how the group grew organically from there
• The power of relationships and how that helped to fuel the growth of Hacker Herren
• How the group supported Oktoberfest servers when the event was canceled during the pandemic and other organizations to which they have donated
• The Hacker Herren Oktoberfest experience and the schedule of events
• How the group maintains its established culture of respect and responsibility
• How Hacker Herren helps its members strengthen important relationships 

 

Connect with Hacker Herren! 

• http://www.hackerherren.com/ 
• Twitter and Instagram: @hackerherren  

 

The Next Level Podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. 

Jonathan Sams: Cancer Survivor and Thriver

Jonathan Sams is a Navy veteran, attorney, gentleman farmer, husband, and father of four. Throughout his life, Jonathan has been diagnosed with cancer three times—at age 14, at age 39, and most recently at age 55 in May 2022. His outlook on life and how he approaches his battle with cancer is admirable and encouraging. 

In this episode of The Next Level, we discuss: 

• Jonathan’s first battle with cancer as a young teenager, his second battle at age 39, and how they differed
• His mentality when approaching the battle against the disease
• How Jonathan approached receiving his third cancer diagnosis
• Jonathan’s list of “Some Thoughts” that speak to fearlessness, blessings, facing adversity, vulnerability, gratitude, living to your full potential, and more
• The advice Jonathan would give to someone who has recently received a cancer diagnosis
• How Jonathan approaches being an encourager to those around him 

Note: This episode was recorded in September 2022.  

Brad Thor

Jack Carr