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Published October 13, 2026 · 35:04
Guest: Heather McLean
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Heather McLean for a conversation about Air Force service, veteran transition, technology leadership, AI, and building a company after military and corporate life.
Heather shares how she joined Air Force ROTC while trying to figure out how to pay for college, started as a supply officer, and built a twenty-year career that moved through logistics, recruiting, reserves, IT portfolio management, and communications work with U.S. Transportation Command. She explains what it was like managing large legacy systems, working around siloed technology, and helping determine which systems should be modernized, retired, or improved.
The conversation also covers Heather's transition into the commercial software world, where she helped lead agile software teams and eventually ran a large engineering organization building custom solutions for Fortune 500 companies. After eleven years in corporate technology, burnout and the desire to keep learning pushed her to start McLean Forrester, a company focused on AI and custom technology solutions.
Ed and Heather dig into AI, vibe coding, software development, data quality, guardrails, human oversight, and why companies should not mistake a chatbot or quick automation for a real strategy. They also discuss how veterans can bring leadership, systems thinking, and mission focus into technology and entrepreneurship.
This episode is about service, transition, growth, and using hard-earned experience to help businesses build smarter in a rapidly changing world.
*Contact Ed Parcaut:** - 🌍 Website: [edparcaut.com](http://edparcaut.com) - 📱 Twitter: [@edparcaut](https://twitter.com)
For more resources and support, visit HelpingTheBrave.com. #HelpingTheBrave #EdParcaut #HeatherMcLean #AirForceVeteran #VeteranTransition #AIForBusiness #VeteranEntrepreneur #WomenVeterans #AgileSoftware #McLeanForrester #TechnologyLeadership #MilitaryTransition #CustomSoftware #BusinessInnovation #VeteransInTech
September 29, 2026 · 47:46
Guest: Chrisanne Gordon
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut sits down with Dr. Chrisanne Gordon for a passionate and eye-opening conversation about traumatic brain injury, PTSD, veteran transition, and the urgent need to rethink how America cares for those who served. Dr. Gordon explains why she believes PTSD should be understood through the lens of brain trauma, survival response, and rewired…
May 12, 2026 · 33:54
Guest: Scott English
In this episode of Helping The Brave Podcast, Ed Parcaut talks with Scott English, a former Canadian Army medic and Navy diver who now leads Combat Fitness, a performance-focused training business for military, law enforcement, and tactical athletes. Scott shares his journey through service, his transition out, and how burnout, operational demands, and changing priorities pushed him toward…
April 28, 2026 · 1:11:29
Guest: Chris Miles
In this episode of "Helping the Brave," host Ed Parcaut sits down with guests Chris Miles and Lee Ettinger for an engaging conversation about military service, transition to civilian life, and entrepreneurship. Chris Miles shares candid stories from his time in the Marine Corps, including challenging boot camp experiences and lessons learned from amphibious assault training. He and Ed Parcaut dive…
