📢🎙️ NEW EPISODE NOW STREAMING! 🎙️
Leadership isn't just learned—it's lived.
On Episode 73 of the WWIA Podcast, WWIA Founder and CEO John McDaniel sits down with combat-wounded Purple Heart Heroes and WWIA certified Guides Jeremy Smith and Derek VanBuren during the Foundation's 2nd Leadership Development Program at WWIA Headquarters in Apollo Beach, Florida. 💜
Together, they explore what it means to lead with humility, invest in others, and prepare the next generation of WWIA leaders who will help carry our mission forward. You'll gain an inside look at how WWIA equips Purple Heart Heroes to lead therapeutic, adaptive, outdoor sporting adventures that strengthen camaraderie, restore purpose, and change lives. 🎣🏹🦌
If you've ever wondered what it takes to develop servant leaders and preserve a mission built on Honor, Connection, and Healing, this is an episode you won't want to miss! 👏
🎧 You can listen and download this latest episode on our website (buff.ly/3Vb9bR3) or by going to your favorite podcast service, such as iTunes, Spotify, etc. Be sure to share the podcast with your friends and family, and if you're enjoying the podcast, please leave us a review! If you'd like to comment on the podcast or have an idea for a future episode, drop us an email at: podcast@wwiaf.org
👇 Let us know your biggest leadership takeaway in the comments after you listen!
#WWIA #WWIAPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #PurpleHeart #CombatWoundedVeterans #HonorConnectHeal #ServantLeadership #OutdoorHealing #VeteranStories
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🚨👏🏻 Please join us in recognizing and congratulating Tony Smith, Adam Cook, Hans Grothaus, Win Anderson, Shaun Tichenor, and Michael Ryals, the WWIA Guide School Class of 2026 for earning their official Guide School Certification! 🛡️
WWIA welcomed these six Heroes to WWIA's Northern Healing Center, Camp Hackett, in Phillips, Wisconsin for hands-on training, education, and instruction to help lead WWIA events and their fellow Purple Heart recipients in the field. This 6th iteration of WWIA Guide School would not have been possible without the outstanding dedication and hard work of so many amazing individuals and supporters within our WWIA family. We salute you for not only supporting our mission, but more importantly, for bringing Honor, Connection, and Healing to the lives of America's combat-wounded Veterans. We cannot do what we do without you. 👏🏻
Our highest appreciation and gratitude to the Adaptive Sports and Arts - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for supporting and funding this important mission. We would also like to recognize and thank our instructors: John McDaniel, Corrina Klahr, Tim Spence, Jake Whipkey, Erinn Kiesow-Webb of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Allen Nickel, Bryan Hauser, Luci Theiler, Pamela Kinnee, and Leroy Sillers from the Wisconsin Trappers Association, Inc., John & Tami Rogers of Maine's Outdoor Learning Center, and Roy Munroe, Dan Swope, and Brock McDermid of Velocity Outdoor and Ravin Crossbows.
To every instructor, volunteer, and supporter who stepped away from your families, careers, and daily responsibilities to invest in these Heroes—THANK YOU! Your generosity, expertise, and talents continue to strengthen our mission and impact the lives of America's combat-wounded Veterans. Your dedication and participation truly made this 2026 Guide School a tremendous success. 🎣🏹🐾🏕️🦌 🫎
To our six newest WWIA Guides—THANK YOU for answering the call to lead, mentor, and serve your fellow Purple Heart Heroes. The knowledge and skills you've gained this week are only the beginning. Your greatest impact will come through the friendships you build, the encouragement you offer, and the example you set in the field. By investing in this mission, you've chosen to help other combat-wounded Veterans discover renewed purpose, lasting camaraderie, hope and healing through our therapeutic, adaptive, outdoor sporting adventures. We are honored to have you on our team and profoundly grateful for your continued service, sacrifice, and commitment to helping others. 💜
Please join us in proudly welcoming and congratulating our newest WWIA Hero Guides! 👏 👍🎉
#WWIA #VeteranAffairs #RavinCrossbows #VelocityOutdoor #WWIAGuideSchool #MainesOutdoorLearningCenter #HidesforHeroes #WWIAEagleRiverMuskieChallunge #ChristopherandanaReeveFoundation #KabcoBuilders #WIDNR #WisconsinTrappersAssociation #Sports4Vets
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Well today the heroes fishing Alaska waters were met with a challenge. They experienced true Alaskan fishing. The weather was not so beautiful. As we left Port Protection early and entered the straight we were met with fog, wind and some rough seas which made fishing hard. This of course was a challenge but they stuck it out and came back with some beautiful halibut. A huge thanks to the boat captains who braved this weather and made sure everyone was safe and had a great time. Back at it early tomorrow to try and chase some king salmon, black rockfish and of course some more giant halibut.
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To play a part in the healing and restoration of our Heroes is a high honor and privilege. We are honored and grateful to have an amazing network and community of supporters across North America who help us accomplish our mission. The work we do is making a tremendous difference. Thank you all! 💜 #WWIA #TestimonialTuesday
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Another great day on the water out of Port Protection. Beautiful clear skies and Fish on the deck. Heroes had a blast catching Halibut, King Salmon, Lingcod and Rockfish. Everyone is beat but ready for a new day tomorrow. Big fish for today was 230lb halibut brought on board as a team effort.
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At WWIA, we've seen firsthand how time spent on the water does more than fill a cooler. It creates conversations, strengthens friendships, restores hope, and reminds our combat-wounded Purple Heart Heroes that healing often happens one cast at a time. 💜
So let's hear from you...
🎣 What's your favorite fish to catch?
Drop your answer in the comments below 👇🏻....feel free to share a photo of your favorite catch and tell us where you caught it! 📸🐟
💜 Honor. Connect. Heal.
👇 Share your answer in the comments!
#MissionMonday #WWIA #HonorConnectHeal #PurpleHeart #Veterans #CombatWounded #Sports4Vets
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