The podcast episode features T. Shane Johnson, a US Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. Host Theresa Carpenter leads the discussion through various aspects of T. Shane's extraordinary journey.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Big Guns Coffee, a business T. Shane started with his daughter Charlie. What began as a child's business idea has grown into a major enterprise, now present in over 2,000 stores across the United States.
Meet our Guest: T.Shane Johnson
T. Shane clarifies that he served in Battalion Recon rather than Force Recon, and shares his background growing up in Arcadia, Florida, in a cattle ranching family. He discusses his motivation for joining the Marine Corps, citing both the appeal of the uniform and the desire to challenge himself.
Our guest recounts a life-changing incident during his service where he was targeted by MS-13 gang members, resulting in severe injuries that required extensive recovery. Despite this trauma, he successfully transitioned out of the military and into finance.
🔑 Key Discussions:
✔️ T. Shane Johnson continues speaking engagements while managing Big Guns Coffee expansion
✔️ T. Shane Johnson and daughter Charlie to maintain their joint speaking engagements and prepare for Shark Tank audition
✔️ Big Guns Coffee to fulfill new distribution agreement with HomeGoods for 1,100 stores
Summary
In this episode, you’ll discover the powerful and inspiring journey of T.Shane, a man who transformed life-threatening adversity into purpose and impact. From experiencing two years of homelessness following the 2008 financial crash to becoming a successful entrepreneur, his story is a testament to resilience and grit. He opens up about building multiple ventures, including Big Guns Coffee, a business he co-founded with his daughter Charli. You’ll also hear about his Hike Across America initiative, which raises awareness for homeless veterans and suicide prevention, and how his mission has been featured on major platforms like ESPN, Fox and Friends, and USA Today. Plus, learn about his record-breaking pushup achievement and why a mindset of service underpins everything he does.
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Throughout the interview, T. Shane emphasizes the importance of fatherhood, personal growth, and the value of pushing through fear and insecurity to achieve goals. He shares insights about entrepreneurship, motivation, and the impact of military service on personal development.
