Episode description

Marine Corps ANGLICO veteran SGT Q joins VETSOCIAL Voices to share a raw, hopeful arc—from post-deployment spiral and homelessness to building a mission that saves lives. He recounts surviving a home-invasion gunfight, hitting bottom, and a turning point at New Life Church. A midnight grid search to save a fellow vet from an overpass sparked the blueprint for his app, originally called Operation Pop Smoke—a squad-based wellness tool with a daily 4-question check-in and a one-button alert that pings 2–3 trusted contacts when someone needs help.

We also dig into how he turned training into tech and workshops (including work with Cherokee and Choctaw partners), grew his company into the top 2% of U.S. small businesses, and won The Blox twice (Seasons 7 & 9) before returning as a coach and judge. Along the way: why hope is a survival catalyst, how to set up your “squad,” and practical steps leaders can use to protect their people.

In this ~39-minute episode (38:40), we cover:

ANGLICO, call-for-fire, and the “pop smoke” metaphor for asking help

Surviving a home invasion and the mental-health freefall that followed

The rescue that led to designing a daily wellness + alert app (“Operation Pop Smoke”)

Color-coded status, one-tap alerts, and building 2–3 person accountability squads

Translating military training into tech + workshops; work with Cherokee/Choctaw communities

Winning The Blox (S7 & S9), then coaching/judging—and what founders can learn

Building a company into the top 2% of small businesses; recognized as Indiana Veteran of the Year (2025) by Military Friendly

Follow the show and share this with a veteran, milspouse, or ally who needs a simple, actionable way to “pop smoke” and get help fast.