Mike volunteered to deploy to Iraq with a certain understanding of what his role would be. Once he arrived, that understanding changed. Check out Part 1 of my conversation with Mike Keevil on The Morning Formation podcast. Part 2 will be airing next week! #MilitaryStories #VeteranStories
Not every moment in combat is action. Mike Keevil shared a moment where rounds were coming down an alleyway, there was no clear target, no real cover, and nowhere to move. And in that moment… all he could do was stand there and wait. That’s a side of these experiences…
When I went through Army basic training, I got put in as a squad leader early on… and somehow never got fired the entire cycle. Looking back, I think they just forgot about me half the time. But I took it seriously. I made sure my squad was squared away,…
There’s something powerful about someone taking the time to teach you when they don’t have to. Mike Keevil shared a moment where he didn’t fully understand what he was doing, and instead of pretending, he asked for help. Thankfully, someone stepped up and showed him. What stuck with me is…
A lot of people see the highlight reel. They don’t always see the reality behind it. When I sat down with Mike Keevil @40kdirtbags he shared what life actually looked like in certain moments during his time in the service... including going nearly 3 MONTHS without a shower while deployed.…
When Mike decided he wanted to go Recon, there wasn’t a clear roadmap. No YouTube videos. No step-by-step guide. So he did something simple... he asked someone who had already done it. The answer he got? Do the work. Then do more of it. Moments like this remind me that…
There are parts of war that don’t get talked about. In this conversation with Mike Keevil, he shares his experience in mortuary affairs. A role that requires not just discipline, but emotional resilience. This clip is raw, real, and a reminder that behind every name is a life, a family,…
Some moments in combat happen so fast they barely make sense until later. In this episode, Mike Keevil shares a moment from a firefight where time seemed to slow down for just a second. He saw something his teammate didn’t. A grenade. What happened next is the kind of split-second…
A lot of military stories get polished into highlight reels. We wanted the version that still has grit under the fingernails. I’m joined by Mike Keevil, a retired Recon Marine who served through multiple wars and carried those lessons into training, instruction, and the long process of figuring out who…
One topic that doesn’t get enough attention in conversations about veterans, police officers, and first responders is morale. People in these professions face intense stress, high responsibility, and often difficult public scrutiny. When morale drops, it doesn’t just affect job performance...it affects the mental and emotional well-being of the people…
One thing I always want to understand when I sit down with someone is what their foundation is. What shapes their decisions? What keeps them steady when life gets hard? When I asked Phil Nozaki that question, his answer was simple and direct. Jesus. Phil grew up in a faith-centered…
This podcast has always been about the fight. The struggle. The resilience. The perseverance it takes to keep showing up when life throws something heavy your way. I’ve been blessed to know people who are strong in so many ways... tactically, spiritually, in their communities, and in their families. Phil…
For many families, military service from past generations remains a mystery. Which I think is a real shame. As I rewatch this clip, I'm reminded of how important it is to ask questions, document stories, and preserve the history of those who came before us. #VeteranStories #MilitaryFamilies #MilitaryHistory #VeteransVoices #UntoldStories
Sometimes the biggest answers come from asking the right question. When Phil Nozaki was preparing for surgery, one surgeon from UCLA suggested something different: genetic testing before the operation. That decision revealed that Phil wasn’t dealing with a typical kidney cancer. He had HLRCC (𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘪𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳)…
We chase a lot of things in life... more money, more success, more achievements. But when people look back at the end of their lives, it’s rarely about what they earned. It’s about the time they spent with the people they love. In this episode of The Morning Formation Podcast,…
When Phil Nozaki was diagnosed, doctors told him there’s currently no cure for the type of cancer he has: Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma (HLRCC.) His path forward now includes a clinical trial combining standard treatment with an additional immunotherapy drug researchers are studying. In our latest episode of…
I asked Phil Nozaki a simple question: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? His answer was powerful. He hopes to be remembered as someone who reflected the love of Christ and lived by biblical principles. As we head into Easter, it’s a good reminder to pause…
Sometimes the smallest warning sign can change everything. When Phil Nozaki noticed blood in his urine, he thought it might be a kidney stone. Thankfully he decided to get an ultrasound just in case. In our latest episode of the The Morning Formation Podcast, Phil shares his journey through a…
Blood in your urine is easy to explain away until you can’t. Phil Nozaki thought he was dealing with a kidney stone, but one follow-up ultrasound uncovered kidney cancer and set him on a path that reshaped everything: work, family, faith, and the meaning of time. We talk through Phil’s…
Purpose is something a lot of people struggle to find. In a conversation I had with Rob Martinez last year, he brought up a simple but powerful question: 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺? Rob also shared his journey from leaving the United States Marine Corps, struggling to find direction…
You can train your body and sharpen your skills. But if you don’t process what you’ve seen, carried, and suppressed, it will eventually surface... sometimes in places you don’t expect. Mental readiness is just as important as physical readiness. This is something we explore often through meaningful conversations on the…
At the end of my life, I hope the thing that matters most isn’t money… It’s the positive impact I had on others. A lot of people are doing amazing work in their communities. ⬇️Tag someone in the comments who you believe is having a positive impact on their community!…
In law enforcement and combat environments, there’s this expectation that you can just “flip a switch” and perform under pressure. But in reality, it’s way more complex than that. We’re human... not some machine. Our sleep, nutrition, stress levels, and what’s happening at home all play a role in how…
Sometimes humor becomes a coping mechanism in a high-stress situation. Not because something is funny, but because it allows you to feel something instead of nothing. In my conversation with Becky DiStefano, we talked about how common this is among veterans, first responders, and others operating in intense environments. It’s…