Check Your Six Pack
Designed for the military community and featuring interviews with active-duty service members and veterans, Check Your Six Pack Podcast focuses on themes of service, mental and physical health, and personal growth - while examining the impact that alcohol and substance use can have on each. In each episode, Dr. Maggio and Ms. Huber break down complex neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology, and psychology to provide clear, military-relevant, and engaging explanations to help the audience understand the scientific interplay between alcohol and stress, trauma, genetics, and mental health.
Episode 1: Johnny "VivaLaVargas" Vargas
Austin Von Letkemann and Johnny Vargas discuss Jonny's childhood exposure to harmful drinking and trauma, Johnny's journey to overcome his fear of becoming dependent on alcohol, and Johnny's successful approach to alcohol consumption in moderation.
Austin Von Letkemann and Tyler Grey discuss Tyler's career in Special Forces, the accident that precipitated Tyler's descent into Alcohol and Substance abuse, hitting rock bottom, Tyler's journey to recovery, and his approach to maintaining balance in his approach to life and alcohol.
Austin Von Letkemann and Kagan Dunlap discuss Kagan's recovery from alcohol dependence and how he has translated his journey to a successful career as a military social media influencer providing support and hope to his large military following.
Austin Von Letkemann and Steve Wise discuss Steve's parent's journey into alcohol dependence, the isolating effect this had on Steve as a child, and how Steve has managed to establish a healthy relationship with alcohol, cope with his childhood experiences, and find success.
Episode 5: Ben and Jessica Owen
Austin Von Letkemann joined by Ben and Jessica Owens, founders of We Fight Monsters and Flanders Field, discuss their battle with alcohol and drug dependence, their recovery journey, and their efforts to give back to their community by renovating drug houses into halfway homes.
Episode 6: Vincent "Rocco" Vargas
Host Austin Von Letkemann sits down with Vincent “Rocco” Vargas for an in-depth conversation about service, leadership, resilience, and life after the military. This episode focuses on the culture of alcohol use in the military and first responder communities. Our guest speaks openly about how drinking is often normalized in the military as a coping mechanism for stress, trauma, and the pressure of high-performance environments and how that can slowly lead to problematic use or addiction.
Austin Von Letkemann speaks with Marine Corps veteran and coach JJ Howland about identity, discipline, and rebuilding purpose after military service. Our guest shares how the normalization of alcohol use in the military and veteran culture can become a barrier to mental and physical health and why addressing drinking habits is critical for long-term growth. This episode highlights honest conversation around alcohol, recovery, and redefining what strength means.
Episode 8: Michael "Rod" Rodriguez
Austin Von Letkemann is joined by Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, a U.S. Army Green beret veteran and President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. Rod shares his decades of military experience and explores how alcohol is used to manage stress, pain, and identity after the military and how those habits can affect mental health, relationships, and purpose. Rod goes on to address the difficulty of recognizing when drinking becomes a problem, emphasizing the need for accountability and self-awareness as one moves beyond the uniform.
Austin Von Letkemann speaks with Mary Dague, a retired Army Sergeant and double amputee who shares her journey of trauma, loss, recovery, and resilience after surviving an IED blast. The conversation touches on the emotional toll of combat, the ways service members may turn to alcohol or substances to cope with pain or trauma and how to confront those patterns honestly. Mary’s journey is one of perseverance, self-awareness, and finding healthier ways to navigate substance use and recovery.
Episode 10: Austin von Letkemann, "Mandatory Fun Day"
We flip the script with Tyler Grey acting as host interviewing Auston Von Letkemann who tells the story of his journey to establish a healthy relationship with alcohol, his experiences as an active-duty member of the army and the pressure to drink in order to bond with his fellow service members.