4/7/2024

Hi everyone,

I recently started recording my podcast “Beyond The Ranks.” On my show, I speak with a wide variety of current and former Service Members about themselves and current issues.

A few months ago, I kicked things off by chatting with 1LT Christian Falk and SGT Taylor Figueroa of the 82nd Airborne Division. They teamed up to build Bird Box, which is a product they built to win last year’s Innovation Drop Zone competition hosted by the 82nd Airborne Division.

Introducing my next guest, Mahnaz Akbari, a former member of the Female Tactical Platoon (FTP) and commander of the Female Tactical Company in what was the Afghan National Army before the fall of 2021. Mahnaz played a critical role during her service, working alongside elite U.S. Special Operations forces to apprehend high-value targets within the insurgency.

Mahnaz has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, and Business Insider.