Top Game Podcast
Your host, Sammy Castro, interviews guests on lessons learned in the military and elsewhere in order to better understand finding a balance in life.
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Top Game Episode 32 - CWO Trebor Whitehead
11/24/2023
Top Game Episode 32 - CWO Trebor Whitehead
In this insightful episode of Top Game, host Sammy Castro sits down with Chief Warrant Officer Trebor Whitehead to explore the multifaceted world of military leadership and the evolving landscape of warfare technology. Join us as we delve into personal growth, mentorship, and the importance of staying ahead in the dynamic field of military operations. Key Highlights: Introduction to Chief Warrant Officer Trebor Whitehead Opening thoughts and the significance of today’s discussion. Early Career and Personal Growth Reflections on the initial stages of military careers and the importance of foundational experiences. Leadership and Mentorship Discussion on the roles and responsibilities of leadership within the military. The impact of mentorship on career development. The Role of Podcasting in Sharing Military Experiences Insights into how the medium of podcasting serves as a tool for knowledge sharing and mentorship within the Marine community. Challenges and Representation of Women in the Marines A candid look at the experiences and challenges faced by female Marines. Technological Evolution in Modern Warfare In-depth conversation on the role and impact of technology in modern military operations. Balancing Military and Family Life Insights into the challenges of managing a military career alongside family responsibilities. Future Outlook and Leadership in the Marine Corps Discussions on the future directions of the Marine Corps and the preparation of the next generation of military leaders. Closing Thoughts and Reflections Final reflections on the conversation and the ongoing journey of learning and leadership in the military. Notable Quotes: “The strength of the tribe is that we strengthen our tribe.” – Sammy Castro "It's not really about what we do, it's about who we are." – Trebor Whitehead "You're always learning, always experiencing. It’s about being open to change and embracing the new challenges." – Trebor Whitehead
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/28781743
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Top Game Episode 31 - CWO4 Nate Cherubini
10/10/2022
Top Game Episode 31 - CWO4 Nate Cherubini
Nate & I sat down at my basement bar in Virginia to connect. We never had the opportunity to serve together in the same unit, so we took advantage of a conference to set time aside to record this interview. Initially, he was reluctant because he thought he had nothing to offer the audience. I knew better. His views on agency, mindset, and leaving it all out on the field are crucial takeaways. Our conversation covers topics spanning family readiness, the natural tension between the information & intelligence warfighting functions, and the need to tailor the application of leadership fundamentals to distinct audiences. We nerd out about science fiction, whisky, artificial intelligence & of course, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! As I roll out exclusive content, I've determined Patreon as the easiest way to engage with the audience. Any tier will suffice, and you can still reach me on Reddit, Facebook, LinkedIn, Discord, or at [email protected]. The website needs a touch-up, but I did add some merchandise there in the form of T-shirts & hoodies. You can find it under the Game Theory link at the top of the page. Thanks for tuning in...
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Top Game Episode 30 - MSgt Nate Bailey
09/06/2022
Top Game Episode 30 - MSgt Nate Bailey
Episode 30 has been a long time coming. Top Bailey & I first "met" on Reddit when he reached out to say thanks for creating a forum for us to discuss to us. Since we've been in contact, he's been a great sounding board to help provide insight into what our community needs to hear: "Intimate conversations with Marines exploring their journeys, perspectives & experiences." Nate & I discuss courage, being a perpetual novice, as well as the link between humility & empathy. Thanks for tuning in.
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Top Game Episode 29 - Marshall Troy - BJJ Black Belt
12/20/2021
Top Game Episode 29 - Marshall Troy - BJJ Black Belt
Marshall Troy is a close personal friend and Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. He is a stalwart ambassador for jiu jitsu as therapy, particularly for veterans battling ptsd and struggling to cope with suicide ideation. In the interview, we cover our common close ties with LGBT family members, how that has impacted our dealings with those around us and the influence we can make on those coping with a lack of acceptance, ostracism and targeted hate.
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/21539063
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Top Game Episode 28 - SSgt Antuan Martin
11/01/2020
Top Game Episode 28 - SSgt Antuan Martin
Episode 28 brings us to SSgt Antuan Martin. We cover a spectrum of topics spanning strength training, jiu-jitsu, learning styles, audio production, and even video games in our conversation. Themes in the discussion include the individual Marine's value to the institution and the dynamic nature of camaraderie. His perspective on the value of initiative reminds us of the importance for senior leaders to cultivate an environment whereby their subordinates are permitted to "dare greatly" without fear.
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/16640114
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Top Game Episode 27 - MSgt Samuel Castro - 2020 SITREP
09/18/2020
Top Game Episode 27 - MSgt Samuel Castro - 2020 SITREP
Following a hectic PCS move from Okinawa to the Pentagon, we're finally back up and running with plenty of high value targets in the vicinity to link up with. Thanks for all your support. Thanks for your patience. Fortitudine.
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/16058420
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Top Game Episode 26 - MSgt Tom Dean (Ret.)
12/29/2019
Top Game Episode 26 - MSgt Tom Dean (Ret.)
Episode 26 is one of the first episodes I ever recorded during a trip to San Angelo for an OCCFLD working group. Tom promoted me to Sgt back in 2002 before I hit the Fleet. In conversation, we discuss a range of topics from the influence of the Senior Enlisted, the impact of technology on operations, the opposing priorities between the strategic & operational spheres, the importance of maintaining contact with fellow Marines, and the bond we enjoy with one another.
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Top Game Episode 25 - MGySgt Rich Deuto
12/22/2019
Top Game Episode 25 - MGySgt Rich Deuto
In Episode 25, I finally sit down with the outgoing Operations Chief of III MEF Information Group, MGySgt Rich Deuto. As he heads back to familiar territory as the incoming Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, we investigate his passion for history, the impact of growing up as a Marine brat, as well as the impact that has had on his won family as his son later joined the Marine Corps.
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Top Game Episode 24 - MGySgt Leon Ransom, Jr.
12/18/2019
Top Game Episode 24 - MGySgt Leon Ransom, Jr.
Episode 24 highlights Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion’s Senior Enlisted, MGySgt Leon Ransom, Jr., a single father currently preparing his family for assignment overseas in Okinawa, Japan. MGuns highlights the dangers of Retirement On Active Duty (ROAD), how to engage with the monitor, and the significance of advocacy and proponency. A central component to his message is the interdependency between family readiness and national security. In his words, “Family is the basis of all things.”
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/12450620
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Top Game Episode 23 - MSgt Saul Barajas (Ret.)
12/15/2019
Top Game Episode 23 - MSgt Saul Barajas (Ret.)
Episode 23 brings us to Saul and Claudia Barajas. Our paths diverged for many years but our bond remained intact. Tragically, his family suffered the devastating loss of their daughter, Caprice, in 2011. What followed was a combination of denial, anger, and depression coupled with redemption and restored faith. In the course of our conversation, we explore the beauty of the military community and the support system that guided them through the “worst of times.”
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Top Game Episode 22 - MGySgt John Tiffany (Ret.)
11/27/2019
Top Game Episode 22 - MGySgt John Tiffany (Ret.)
In Episode 22, I sit down with MGySgt John Tiffany to dive into the wave tops of his 26 year career. A key undertone consistent throughout our conversation is the critical requirement for vigilance against the self induced pressure to take sacrifice to the extreme as well as identifying productive countermeasures against that drift.
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Top Game Episode 21 - MGySgt Vince Quinteros
11/22/2019
Top Game Episode 21 - MGySgt Vince Quinteros
In Episode 21, I interview one of my closest friends in the Marine Corps, MGySgt Vince Quinteros. In the exchange, we cover a timespan from the beginning of our careers to his current billet as the Operations Chief of Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion. During our conversation, he highlights the complexity inherent to being a linguist in uniform and having to balance competing priorities.
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Top Game Episode 20 - MGySgt John Stancel
11/18/2019
Top Game Episode 20 - MGySgt John Stancel
In Episode 20, I sit down for the first time one on one with MGySgt John Stancel, one of our 2659s currently serving on the staff of the Deputy Commandant for Information. His insight into the modernization of our occupational field along with his experience at MARFORCYBER brings to light some of the challenges we face as disruptive technology continues to erode how we’ve historically conducted operations.
/episode/index/show/topgame/id/12073172
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Top Game Episode 19 - CWO3 Jenn Cocco
11/06/2019
Top Game Episode 19 - CWO3 Jenn Cocco
In Episode 19, I sit down with Jenn Cocco as she explains to the audience what this podcast has meant to her. She details some of her personal medical and family history and how the Marine Corps experience helped prepare her for all she's had to endure. Her lessons learned over the course of a career include the challenging nature of lat-moving into the 2600 occupational field and her transition from enlisted to warrant officer.
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Top Game Episode 18 - MSgt Conor Mahoney
03/20/2019
Top Game Episode 18 - MSgt Conor Mahoney
In Episode 18, we host our first 0261, MSgt Conor Mahoney. Currently serving as the Data Strategist for the Marine Corps, we get into topics ranging from professional military education, augmented intelligence, data stovepipes, philosophy and science fiction. More than anything, Top Mahoney expresses his inner resolve towards the relentless pursuit of excellence.
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Top Game Episode 17 - MGySgt Sara Clark
03/14/2019
Top Game Episode 17 - MGySgt Sara Clark
In episode 17, I sit down with one of my favorite Marines, Sara Clark. In only the way she can, she highlights some of the battles and issues she's struggled with in her attempt to balance out privacy versus transparency, as well as motherhood against professional obligations. She also grants us key insight into her "combative nature" and why it's important for each of us to become invested in the way ahead for our Corps.
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Top Game Episode 16 - Mrs. Elizabeth Castro
02/10/2019
Top Game Episode 16 - Mrs. Elizabeth Castro
In Episode 16, I sit down with my wife to discuss some key issues facing military families, to include overseas assignments, family readiness, spousal employment & access to education.
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Top Game Episode 15 - SgtMaj Mario Marquez
10/14/2018
Top Game Episode 15 - SgtMaj Mario Marquez
In Episode 15, SgtMaj Marquez & I sit down at his dinner table and shoot straight on a range of topics from his approach to leadership, his brush with adversity, the formative influence of his SNCO leadership to taco rice and the command climate on Okinawa.
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Top Game Episode 14 - CWO5 Jim Musch
09/18/2018
Top Game Episode 14 - CWO5 Jim Musch
Long overdue, Episode 14 finally brings the CWO community front and center with none other than CWO5 Jim Musch. As the senior SIGINT Marine in the OccFld, he provides unique perspective in several areas. Chief amongst them is the role the CWO fulfills in the command structure. He also delves into the intricacies associated with assignment to HQMC. Further, he touches on the significance of a strong working relationship with the senior enlisted members in the community. One key takeaway from the interview was how he’s been able to balance the pursuit of excellence with the demands of maintaining a strong family.
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Top Game Episode 13 - MGySgt Kyle Cornett
09/15/2018
Top Game Episode 13 - MGySgt Kyle Cornett
Episode 13 of Top Game finds us in San Angelo, Texas with the Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow’s Senior Enlisted Advisor, MGySgt Kyle Cornett. A MARSOC veteran and key leader in the community, we had the opportunity to cross paths for the first time at a working group earlier this year. With a measured approach to leadership and a keen eye for slicing to the heart of any friction points, MGuns Cornett is uniquely situated in a key billet as our OccFld goes through a significant overhaul. As you’ll undoubtedly hear in this interview, he’s the right man for the job.
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Top Game Episode 12 - MGySgt Scott Daubert
05/30/2018
Top Game Episode 12 - MGySgt Scott Daubert
Episode 12 of Top Game brings us to 1st Radio Battalion's Operations Chief, Master Guns Scott Daubert. A dedicated teacher and mentor, he highlights several key takeaways critical to his success, particularly getting the buy in of your fellow SNCOs. We cover the importance of mentoring "junior SNCOs," the learning styles of our youngest Marines, and the need to understand the impact family readiness has on a Marine's performance.
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Top Game Episode 11 - MGySgt Sean Nakao
05/29/2018
Top Game Episode 11 - MGySgt Sean Nakao
Episode 11 of Top Game drops today with the highly anticipated MGySgt Sean Nakao, MARSOC veteran and current Operations Chief of America’s Radio Battalion. In our conversation we explore not only the importance of caring about the life we lead in uniform, but more specifically, how we can transfer that attitude to those around us. He also covers the significance of making career decision based on facts as opposed to emotion.
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Top Game Episode 10 - MSgt Sam Jerome
05/28/2018
Top Game Episode 10 - MSgt Sam Jerome
Episode 10 brings one of the hardest working SNCOs in our OccFld into the spotlight and outside of his comfort zone. A former grunt and lat mover, Top Jerome's dedication and perseverance have enabled him to play "catch up" in such a challenging and technical field. From his studies as a heritage language student at DLI to his multiple deployments as a SNCOIC, he touches on some of his formative experiences, as well as his earnest effort to "measure up" to some key mentors in the field.
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Top Game Episode 9 - MSgt Samuel Carter
03/26/2018
Top Game Episode 9 - MSgt Samuel Carter
In Episode 9 of Top Game, your host sits down with none other than MSgt Samuel Octavius Carter, the 2651 OccFld Specialist. In the conversation, the topics range from lessons learned in trust and friendship, the value of a healthy home life, and the reasons why sometimes, “It Takes A Marine” to thrive in this lifestyle.
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Top Game Episode 8 - MSgt John Scoggins
03/23/2018
Top Game Episode 8 - MSgt John Scoggins
Top Scoggins highlights the complexity behind balancing the needs of the occupational field with those of the Corps. He articulates in detail his approach to “crowdsourcing” expertise down to the LCpl level and the importance of that perspective when engaged with leadership on the modernization of the Corps. As things turned personal, he describes his calculus for retirement, the challenges of being a good stepfather, and the patience and humility required to set things right with your loved ones.
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Top Game Episode 7 - Sgt Eric Moreno
03/23/2018
Top Game Episode 7 - Sgt Eric Moreno
At the request of many, Sgt Eric Moreno is our first NCO guest. Initially nervous and understandably so, he sits down with your host to discuss some of the challenges faced by an older Marine still at the front end of his career. In his interview, he not only covers his perspective as a team leader, but the importance of establishing positive working relationships with the supported unit.
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Top Game Episode 6 - SgtMaj George Garcia III
03/23/2018
Top Game Episode 6 - SgtMaj George Garcia III
SgtMaj George Garcia III sits down with your host to discuss the challenges of the 8999 community to "keep the promise," his decision to walk away from his Occ Field, and the importance of always being ready.
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Top Game Episode 5 - MGySgt Orlando Reyes
03/04/2018
Top Game Episode 5 - MGySgt Orlando Reyes
Episode 5 with MGySgt Orlando Reyes is our first step outside of the 26XX field. A logistician by trade, he sits down with your host to discuss the obstacles he’s been able to overcome and some he is still contending with. We covered everything from the challenges of recruiting duty to his very personal suicide attempt and his personal redemption and vindication through his efforts to communicate his experiences to those coming up behind him.
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Top Game Episode 0 - MSgt Samuel Castro
02/20/2018
Top Game Episode 0 - MSgt Samuel Castro
Your host takes you through some of the motivation behind the Top Game podcast and lines out a snapshot of things to come.
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Top Game Episode 4 - MSgt Chris Thomason
02/18/2018
Top Game Episode 4 - MSgt Chris Thomason
MSgt Chris Thomason sits down with your host to discuss the unique perspective of the "re-tread," life outside the Marine Corps and what ultimately brought him back to active duty.
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