Army veteran Robin Phoenix Johnson, Hoover's Veteran fellow from the class of 2024-2025, shares her journey from enlisted soldier to officer, mom, stand-up comedian, and mental health advocate. After a 26-year military career, Robin found her new mission: helping others heal through humor. She discusses the origins of her comedy journey, the science behind laughter as therapy, and how her program Hilarious helps veterans and frontline professionals reframe stress and trauma through a comedic lens. Her message is clear: laughter isn’t just medicine, it’s a leadership skill, a survival tool, and a powerful connector in a divided world. Robin also reflects on overcoming imposter syndrome, applying to the Hoover Fellowship, and encouraging other "Mustangs" and non-traditional leaders to claim their seat at the table.

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Frontline Voices is part of the Veteran Fellowship Program at the Hoover Institution. Applications to join the 2025 Cohort of the Veteran Fellow Program is closing on July 31, 2025. Click here to apply now.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Robin “Phoenix” Johnson is a 26-year Army veteran, certified humor professional, and Hoover Institution Veteran Fellow. After serving in both enlisted and officer roles, she discovered her post-military mission at the intersection of leadership, mental health, and comedy. Robin is the founder of Hilarious, a humor-based therapy program that helps veterans and frontline professionals reframe stress through laughter. A TEDx speaker and passionate advocate, she’s on a mission to prove that resilience isn’t just about grit, it’s about wit.

In this episode, Mike sits down with Chris McKay, founder of Maginative, to unpack the urgent need for AI literacy, especially in underserved and underrepresented communities. They discuss how AI is reshaping work, education, warfare, and daily life, and why just knowing what AI can do isn’t enough. From building chatbots to reimagining classrooms, this is a candid conversation about the world we’re already living in and the future we’re co-creating. Chris reminds us that the most powerful tool isn’t the AI itself, but the questions we ask of it.

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Frontline Voices is part of the Veteran Fellowship Program at the Hoover Institution. Applications to join the 2025 Cohort of the Veteran Fellow Program is now available until July 31, 2025. Click here to apply.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Chris McKay is a reporter, educator, and strategist on a mission to make AI accessible and actionable for organizations ready to embrace the future. He is the founder of Maginative, a platform operating at the intersection of AI media, enterprise strategy, and education. Chris covers the AI revolution from the front lines, spotlighting key trends, breaking stories, and interviewing pioneers shaping the next wave of innovation. Behind the scenes, he advises Fortune 500 companies on responsible AI adoption using Maginative’s proprietary USAGE framework and AI Maturity Index. Whether leading workshops for executive teams, publishing in-depth analysis, or quietly building the next big thing in enterprise AI, Chris is helping leaders make smarter moves, faster.

Two Marine Corps veterans and Hoover Fellows, Dave Winnacker and Donnie Hasseltine, break down California’s wildfire crisis—not from a sensational angle, but with sharp insight on what’s really at stake. They reveal how outdated fire strategies, rising insurance costs, and inaction are creating a perfect storm that could implode the state’s housing market. Drawing from their Hoover fellowship capstone, they explain why the solution isn’t more tech—it’s micro-level action and community-wide coordination. From defense-in-depth analogies to pricing risk through insurance markets, this conversation will change how you think about climate risk, public policy, and collective responsibility.

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Frontline Voices is part of the Veteran Fellowship Program at the Hoover Institution. Applications to join the 2025 Cohort of the Veteran Fellow Program is now available until July 31, 2025. Click here to apply.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Dave Winnacker is a retired fire chief with over two decades of service across California, most recently leading the Moraga-Orinda Fire District. A former Marine Corps infantry officer and senior reserve commander, he also served in key wildfire leadership roles at the state level. As a Hoover Institution Veteran Fellow at Stanford, he focuses on the intersection of wildfire and property insurance. He co-founded XyloPlan Risk and helped launch ZoneHaven, an evacuation software used across California.

Donnie Hasseltine is a cybersecurity executive, Marine Corps combat veteran, and seasoned operator with over 20 years of leadership across military, tech, and security sectors. He has led high-performing teams in crisis environments and brings deep expertise in B2B SaaS, cybersecurity strategy, and enterprise risk. A Hoover Institution Veteran Fellow at Stanford, Donnie focuses on applying military and tech-driven insights to public sector challenges. He also co-founded ZoneHaven and XyloPlan Risk, pioneering tools for wildfire risk and community safety.