We will discuss mastering career strategies and planning for senior military leaders transitioning into the civilian job market.
Tactical Transition
Claim This Podcastby Cyndi Po & Michele Lewis
5.0(4 reviews)
42 episodes
Updated Monthly
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Podcast Overview
We will discuss mastering career strategies and planning for senior military leaders transitioning into the civilian job market.
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Publishing Since
8/7/2023
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Recent Episodes
November 24, 2025
Episode 39 - Cyndi & Michele, "un-Tap'ed" Book Launch
<p>Hello everyone, and welcome to this special edition of the Tactical Transition Podcast!</p> <p>Join hosts Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po as they celebrate the 2 a.m. launch of their new book, <strong>"un-TAP'ed; A guide to faith, family, and life after the military.” </strong>This episode delves into the critical, often overlooked aspects of military transition that the book addresses, featuring powerful insights from guests Jason Schermerhorn, Trent Clark, and John Perez.</p> <p><strong>Key Discussion Points and Insights from “un-Tap’ed”</strong></p> <ul> <li>Addressing the Emotional Gap: The book was written because the hosts recognized that while programs like TAP (Transition Assistance Program) cover résumés, interviews, and networking, there is "so much more to this military transition than just getting another job. It's such a life change.” Michele noted that transition is an emotional process involving "hanging up a uniform that you have taken great pride in."</li> <li>The 2 A.M. Friend: The special 2 a.m. launch time is in honor of the "2 a.m. friend". The book was expedited after Cyndi and Michele experienced the loss of a close friend, a senior leader Marine, to suicide. This tragic event spurred the hosts to realize, "we’ve got to talk about... the impact of transition and we’ve got to say the word suicide.” The 2 a.m. phone call symbolizes when a person is in a dark place and needs someone to answer the phone. As John Perez remarked: "I've never gotten a good phone call at 2 a.m. So, all the more reason you got to be there and answer the phone.”</li> <li>Faith and Authenticity: The hosts thoughtfully decided to include faith because it felt "inauthentic" not to. Michele emphasized: "It's a book about transition that happens to be written by Christians. It's not a book about Christians written by folks who just want to talk about transitioning". This inclusion aims to remind service members of their value, which goes beyond the uniform, rank, or hat.</li> <li>Impact on the Military Family: Transition is a change for everyone—the service member, their spouse, children, and community. The hosts use exercises in their seminars to initiate necessary conversations between the service member and their "teammate" regarding priorities like CLAMS (Challenge, Location, Advancement, Money, Security) in a new job.</li> <li>Managing Expectations and Stress: Transition is often "heavy," but "heavy isn't always bad." The book addresses the stress and anxiety inherent in the process. Jason noted that setting expectations that "everything's going to be great" does "nobody a service" because setbacks are inevitable, and it may take a while to find the perfect job.</li> <li>Redefining Self and Community: Trent offered powerful advice, urging transitioning members to remember: "you were never just the rank you were, never just a tab, you were never just the MOS... transition isn't about proving that you still matter. It's about deciding where you want that impact to land next.”</li> <li>Building a New Team: The goal of the program and the book is to develop vested relationships, not just end after a class. Cyndi emphasized that "transition is a team sport." Trent advised building a team—including individuals who "don't even know they're your team"—to lower stress levels. Michele urged listeners: "don't be afraid to call at 2 a.m."</li> <li>The Deeper Mission: Michele shared that the 2 a.m. launch coincided with the 10th anniversary of the exact time her son was killed, underscoring that loss and longing can persist, but there is "more to do" as contributors to family and community.</li> <li>Funding Future Work: All proceeds from the book will go toward funding classes that Cyndi and Michele conduct for the SOF community.</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/TAPed-Guide-Family-Faith-Military/dp/B0FV8YG2PQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26H5V2U2KIZ4L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7ek_KpuOt2DATeqMmstvcQ.zsrbeKZ0yjIbpSRvOztb9XDXbPt-AW7XwHXKwvbfA5s&dib_tag=se&keywords=un-tap%27ed+a+guide+to+faith+family+and+life+after+the+military&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1763973945&sprefix=un-tap%27ed+a+guide+to+faith+family+and+life+after+the+military%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Order your copy of “un-TAP’ed” </a></p>
September 12, 2025
Episode 38: Cyndi & Michele - You Gotta Have Faith
<p>Welcome to this week's episode of Tactical Transition! Join your hosts, Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po, as they share a deeply personal and insightful conversation about the role of faith in their lives, their business, and its profound impact on military career transition.</p> <p><strong>Key Points from This Episode:</strong></p> <p><strong>A Personal Foundation:</strong> Cyndi and Michele begin by discussing the changing seasons, likening the dormancy and growth of fall to the periods of protection and growth in life. They introduce the topic of faith, acknowledging it's a risk in business but expressing gratitude for the growing openness about it. Their goal is not to convert, but to share how their Christian faith underpins their success and intuition.</p> <p><strong>Faith in Their Upcoming Book & Business:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Michele and Cyndi are releasing a new book on military career transition. They emphasize it's "the experts on military career transition written by Christians, not a Christian book about military transition".</li> <li>Their business, 374 Consultants, is named after Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart". This philosophy guides them to lead with heart, service, and collaboration, not competition, always seeking to help others.</li> <li>They clarify that in their ESEL seminars, they do not preach. Still, their actions, resources, and trusted network are designed to alleviate the stress and anxiety of transition, helping service members with the "heavy stuff".</li> </ul> <p><strong>Navigating Life's Challenges with Faith:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Cyndi shares how her unwavering faith has guided her through tragedies, including the loss of her father, and financial struggles, always finding God's provision.</li> <li>Michele bravely discusses her experience with immense grief after losing her son, Chris. While she questioned and felt anger, her faith provided an anchor, highlighting the importance of having God to turn to, even in anger. She quotes the MercyMe song, "Bring on the Rain," with the powerful line: "How can circumstances possibly change who you are forever in me?".</li> <li>Michele uses the analogy of floating in dense water: when faced with overwhelming challenges, letting go and trusting God prevents drowning, allowing one to float towards greater things.</li> </ul> <p><strong>The Power of Hope and Community:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The hosts present a compelling statistic from the Pew Research Center (2011): Post-9/11 veterans attending religious services at least once a week have a 67% chance of having an easier time readjusting to civilian life, compared to a 43% probability for those who never attend.</li> <li>Michele passionately states that "Faith gives you hope. Faith gives you mission. Faith gives you integrity. Faith gives you character... Faith above everything provides hope".</li> <li>Cyndi adds that negative thoughts are harmful and should be countered with hope, trusting that even a "no" to a prayer means "something better" is on the way. She shares a personal anecdote of a business closure leading to new, better opportunities.</li> <li>Both hosts emphasize the vital importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and community—a beacon found in faith and reflected in the military family.</li> <li>Michele and Cyndi's heartfelt conversation underscores how their faith provides a resilient foundation, not only for their personal lives but also for their mission to support transitioning veterans. Their message encourages hope, trust, and connection as service members embark on their next adventure.</li> </ul>
August 27, 2025
Episode 37: Command Sgt Maj (Ret) TJ Baird: Trophy Husband, Public Speaker, Leader, Author
<p>Welcome to an enlightening episode of Tactical Transition, where your hosts, Cyndi Po and Michele Lewis, engage in a candid conversation with TJ Baird, a recently retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major and former Command Senior Enlisted Leader from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. TJ, who served for over 30 years, brings a unique perspective on transitioning from military life to a new, passion-driven career.</p> <p>Here are some key takeaways from our insightful discussion with TJ Baird:</p> <ul> <li><strong>A Unique Path Post-Retirement:</strong> TJ, married to Command Sergeant Major Joanne Nman and father to Veronica, made a deliberate choice not to pursue a traditional 9-to-5 job after his extensive military career. He and Joanne had decided years ago they wanted a different retirement.</li> <li><strong>Founding Warrior Dad Stories:</strong> TJ established Warrior Dad Stories, a disabled veteran-owned business. Through this venture, he authored two emotionally driven illustrated books: Warrior Dad, reflecting the duality of being a warfighter and devoted father, and The Adventures of Cool Bear, a heartfelt journey inspired by deployment and his daughter's gift of a small bear.</li> <li><strong>Life's Leadership Lessons:</strong> TJ also shares "Life's Leadership Lessons" on LinkedIn, drawing on his vast experience, including successes and failures. His dog, Macaroni, is a frequent and beloved subject in these posts.</li> <li><strong>The "Trophy Husband":</strong> Michele and Cyndi playfully highlight TJ’s self-proclaimed status as a "trophy husband," a title he embraces with humor and dedication, focusing on cooking, cleaning, and staying in shape for his wife.</li> <li><strong>Writing as Therapy and Passion:</strong> TJ has always enjoyed writing and found it "very therapeutic". He uses visual descriptions, poems, and haikus as a form of art therapy, particularly for traumatic brain injury (TBI). He encourages others to discover and pursue their passions, noting that military life often tends to overshadow personal interests.</li> <li><strong>Overcoming Self-Consciousness:</strong> TJ admitted he initially kept his passion for writing private, fearing it didn't fit the "big tough warrior" persona expected in alpha-dominated military units. Cyndi emphasized that "you can still be badass and ride a haiku".</li> <li><strong>Embracing the "Me" Mindset:</strong> Transitioning from a "we team mindset" to focusing on personal aspirations can be challenging for military leaders. TJ stressed the importance of having a plan and knowing what you don't want to do in retirement, highlighting his choice not to work for the government.</li> <li><strong>Unexpected Realities of Retirement:</strong> TJ shared several things people don't often tell you about retirement: <ul> <li><strong>Profound Tiredness:</strong> After decades of service, your body and mind are "very tired". He strongly advises taking a break before starting a new job to allow for rest and reset.</li> <li><strong>Loss of Benefits</strong>: Automatic TSA Pre-check is revoked upon retirement, though easily regained. Similarly, the annual fee waiver for American Express Platinum cards for active-duty military is lost.</li> <li><strong>ID Card Priority Shift:</strong> His military retirement ID card places him at the bottom of priority lists, but his military dependent ID card (as a spouse) gives him "one bravo" priority for travel and services.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Post-Employment Rehabilitation Evaluation Program (PREP):</strong> TJ is currently attending the VA-run PREP program in Tampa for TBI treatment. He described it as an individualized, comprehensive program (art, music, physical, and clinical therapies) that, though initially "uncomfortable" due to its intense focus on the individual, has been "amazing." He uses the word "reforged" to describe the positive transformation, emphasizing that it's a "warrior word" for polishing who you are.</li> <li><strong>Fun Fact:</strong> TJ has an identical twin brother, Derek, who is still serving in the Army; they are often mistaken for one another. They are co-writing a leadership book based on vignettes from their lives.</li> </ul> <p>TJ's journey offers valuable insights for anyone navigating a significant life transition, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery, passion, and intentional planning.</p>
42 total episodes available
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This podcast updates monthly.
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