Tango Tango

From combat engineer to combat medic, flight medic, Army officer, recruiting commander, and now military and veteran recruiter, Peter Mahmood’s career is a story of adaptability, service, and being willing to take the next opportunity, even when it wasn’t part of the original plan. In this episode of the Tango Tango Podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Army veteran and Cox Enterprises military relations leader Peter Mahmood to explore his remarkable 24-year military career and the pivots that shaped his path. Peter shares stories from assignments in Germany, Korea, West Point, Washington, D.C., and Iraq, along with his transition from enlisted soldier to officer and eventually into Army recruiting. The conversation then turns to Peter’s civilian career, his work connecting veterans and military spouses with opportunities at Cox Enterprises, and practical advice for service members preparing to leave the military. Peter also discusses why translating the full scope of military experience, not simply an MOS, is critical to finding the right civilian career. Key Takeaways Embrace the pivot: Peter’s career demonstrates how stepping outside your comfort zone and remaining open to unexpected opportunities can lead to an entirely different and rewarding career path. Your MOS doesn’t tell your whole…

Not every road to purpose is a straight one. For Michelle Lang, it wound through Fulton County, Pennsylvania, a rural community of just over a thousand people, through years of military spouse life nobody prepares you for, and eventually toward a mission she built herself. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Michelle Lang, Executive Director of Operation Honor: Rural Salutes, to talk through her path from small-town Pennsylvania to founding a nonprofit focused on bringing resources to rural veterans and military families. Michelle opens up about the hard years at Fort Drum, working four jobs just to feel useful, the toxic spouse culture she encountered, and the moment during her husband’s deployment that made her stop waiting and start building. They also get into the Bush Institute Veterans Leadership Program, how the connections she made there became the foundation of her work, and what Operation Honor Rural Salutes is doing across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and South Carolina to bring community events, VA resources, and real support directly to the people who need it most. Michelle’s advice to struggling military spouses cuts straight to the point: take ownership of yourself, build your…

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career can feel overwhelming, especially when service members are unsure where to begin or which resources to use. In this episode of the Tango Tango Podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Marine Corps veteran and UPS veteran recruiter Eric Wesolowski to share honest lessons, practical strategies, and firsthand experience from both sides of the hiring process. Eric reflects on his journey from Marine infantryman and sniper team leader to military instructor, reservist, and veteran recruiter. He opens up about leaving active duty without a clear career plan, accepting the first job he could find, experiencing a layoff, and eventually discovering a new career through an unexpected networking connection. Drawing on their combined experience recruiting and supporting veterans, Eric and Lloyd offer actionable guidance for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. They discuss the importance of starting the transition process early, building genuine relationships, using LinkedIn strategically, keeping resumes current, tailoring applications to each position, and approaching recruiters with clear, professional requests. Key Takeaways Why transitioning service members should begin planning well before their final day in uniform How one conversation or coffee meeting can lead to an unexpected career opportunity Why…

In this powerful classic episode of the Tango Tango podcast, sponsored by CareSource Military & Veterans, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Pat McNamara, a retired Delta Force operator, small business owner, creator of Basic Dude Stuff, and the ultimate champion of resilience. Mac opens up about his journey from elite military operations to navigating darkness after service, revealing the deeply personal story behind his second lease on life. Listeners get a raw look at the highs and lows of Pat’s career, from failing Special Forces training to becoming one of the top performers in Delta. But the most gripping moments come after the battlefield, when he’s living in a bonus room above his garage, caring for his kids, and battling depression and burnout. It was a moment with his son and a screech owl that sparked the turnaround, and a single run that helped him remember who he was. This isn’t just a story about combat. It’s a story of fatherhood, recovery, discipline, and the choice to grow. From surviving a towed parachute jump to creating a children’s show rooted in curiosity and wonder, Pat’s journey is a lesson in how warriors heal, rebuild, and give back. Additional Links…

Some paths don’t move in a straight line. They’re shaped by grit, responsibility, and the willingness to keep choosing impact, even when the original plan changes. For Katherine Torres-Pummill, that path began in Queens, New York, where she was raised by a resilient single mother in a first-generation household surrounded by culture, community, and hard-earned lessons. She once imagined a future in law and public service, but her career in media revealed another way to serve: by telling stories, creating visibility, and helping communities be seen. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Katherine Torres-Pummill, General Manager of Military & Defense at Recurrent Ventures, to discuss her journey from New York City to leading some of the most influential brands in the military and veteran space. Kathy reflects on growing up in Queens, working full-time while attending college at night, building a career across outdoor advertising, news, licensing, and digital media, and taking the leap that brought her into military media through We Are The Mighty. They also discuss the growth of Recurrent Military & Defense, including Military Influencer Conference, MilSpouse Fest, We Are The Mighty, Task & Purpose, and TWZ. Kathy shares…

Some callings start with a moment you can’t ignore. For Brandon Wilson, that moment came after the death of his childhood friend, whose helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Raised in Brevard, North Carolina, in a family rooted in faith, hard work, and generations of military service, Brandon left a life as a professional hunting guide and walked into a Marine Corps recruiting office ready to serve. What followed was 12 years in the infantry, deployments to Iraq and Ukraine, and a deeper understanding of sacrifice, brotherhood, and what it means to keep showing up for the people beside you. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Brandon Wilson, Marine Corps veteran, Chief Operating Officer of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, and longtime veteran advocate, for a conversation about service, transition, mentorship, and faith. Brandon reflects on growing up in rural North Carolina, joining the Marine Corps after his childhood friend’s death, finding his footing after leaving the infantry, and the chance encounter with General Carl Mundy that became one of the most meaningful mentorships of his life. He also shares how his work as a veteran service officer grew into systems-level advocacy,…

Some careers are built through careful planning. Others are shaped by curiosity, service, and a willingness to keep showing up wherever people need you most. For Beau Higgins, the path from New Orleans to Marine Corps colonel was never about chasing status or recognition. It was about leadership, responsibility, and taking care of the people around him. From humanitarian missions in Somalia to combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Beau learned that leadership changes as you grow, but the foundation stays the same: put your people first, stay humble, and never make it about yourself. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Beau Higgins, Marine Corps veteran, senior client partner at The Military Veteran, and VP for business development at Oplign, to discuss leadership, military transition, and the power of personal branding. Beau reflects on his journey from New Orleans to the battlefield to the corporate world, sharing lessons on mentorship, veteran hiring, networking, and why success comes from helping others succeed first. Today, Beau continues serving the veteran community through organizations like Oplign and The Military Veteran, helping veterans and military spouses navigate careers, connect with opportunities, and build stronger futures. Whether…

Some of the strongest leaders don’t find their voice at the peak of their success. They find it in the moments when everything starts to fall apart. Shaped by humble beginnings, hard lessons, and a constant awareness of the paths he didn’t want to take, Dr. Keith “KC” Castille’s rise to Chief Master Sergeant was built slowly through mentorship, self-discovery, and a growing understanding that leadership isn’t about rank, it’s about responsibility. Behind the uniform, though, were deeper struggles. Loss, grief, and the weight of raising three sons on his own brought him to a breaking point that forced him to confront something he had spent a lifetime avoiding. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, sponsored by CareSource, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Dr. Keith “KC” Castille, CEO of C2H LLC, for an honest, unfiltered reflection on what it means to lead when you’re hurting. Together, they move through the defining chapters of KC’s life and the quiet battles that followed him along the way. KC shares the moment he realized he needed help, the decision to seek it, and how that choice reshaped not only his life, but his understanding of strength. They explore the realities…

Purpose can be forged in the most unexpected crucibles. From growing up as a homeschooled “Grady baby” in Atlanta’s South Cobb area to serving as an Army infantry officer deployed to Afghanistan with Special Forces, Zack Knight’s path took him through the grind of blue-collar work, the discipline of law enforcement, the chaos of combat, and the depths of his own personal rock bottom, before finding healing and a renewed sense of mission. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Army veteran, entrepreneur, author, and ATLVets founder Zack Knight. Despite sharing a last name, the two are quick to clarify they’re not related, though they’ve become close brothers in the veteran community. Zack reflects on his Atlanta upbringing, his years with the Smyrna Police Department, his decision to join active duty at 28, and his deployment to Afghanistan in 2019 where his unit lost six soldiers. They discuss the physical and mental toll of combat and Zack’s spiral into survivor’s guilt and a near-fatal crisis. From that low point, a friend’s simple challenge sparked a transformational self-discovery. Zack also shares the unconventional healing practices that helped him rebuild, from Emory’s outpatient therapy program…