This week on the Bourbon and Ballistics Podcast, we sit down with Josh Huite, HVAC veteran, business coach, and host of The Tradesman Experience Podcast. From re-entering the HVAC world with a new mindset to building Blue Collar Insiders with Greg Giroux, Josh shares the raw truth about leadership, hard-earned growth, and the value of getting back up after failure.

We sip Knobel Rickhouse (a whiskey born from Mike Rowe’s tribute to hard work) and dive into the trades, team-building, and how podcasting became a platform for change.

In this episode:

- The lessons Josh learned from a failed HVAC business

- Why tradesmen need strong leadership now more than ever

- The power of real talk and real community

- Men’s mental health and the courage to reflect

- What makes The Tradesman Experience resonate

- How whiskey and leadership have more in common than you think

Whether you're on the jobsite, behind the wheel, or winding down with a pour—this one's for the builders, the leaders, and the ones who keep showing up.

Follow Josh:

The Tradesman Experience Podcast

Blue Collar Insiders

Collard Heating and Air – Herrin, IL

Connect with us

@bourbonandballistics on all social platforms

In this deeply moving episode, Marine Corps veteran Destiny Strong joins *Bourbon and Ballistics* to share her personal story of battling PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation after leaving the service—and how she found healing through horses, meditation, and purpose.

Destiny walks us through her involvement with Healing Arenas, where retired racehorses help veterans reconnect with themselves and the world around them. We also discuss her mission with Patrol Base Abbate’s SAVE (Support-A-Vet) initiative, a powerful campaign to combat veteran suicide and bring resources directly to the warrior community.

This conversation is paired with a perfectly symbolic pour: Pinhook "Bourbon Resolve”, inspired by the same kind of horses helping Destiny and countless others find peace and purpose.

What You’ll Hear:

- A Marine’s real talk about trauma and transition

- The transformative impact of equine therapy

- Breathwork, meditation, and mental health practices for vets

- How PBA’s SAVE program is changing lives

- A toast to resilience, community, and second chances

Resources:

* Healing Arenas: http//:www.healingarenas.org

* Patrol Base Abbate: http://www.pbabbate.org

* Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1 or text 838255

If this episode speaks to you or someone you love, share it. And remember: You’re not alone.

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🥃 Learn more about Pinhook https://www.pinhookbourbon.com