From Idea To Industry: Building The Bar Book & Creating Better Social Experiences

Send us Fan MailFor my first interview after returning to America from Japan, I sit down with Mike Waskewhich, a retired Army Sergeant Major who served nearly 24 years before entering entrepreneurship and building businesses centered around technology, community, and veteran-owned brands. Mr. Waskewhich shares why he originally joined the military to escape a small Indiana town, how a career that began in the JAG Corps eventually took him into senior leadership, and what decades of military service taught him about resilience, mentorship, integrity, and the impact leaders can have without ever realizing someone is watching.We also get into the decision to leave military service and prioritize family, along with one of the biggest questions veterans face during transition: What do I do next? Mr. Waskewhich explains how his interest in bourbon and craft beverages eventually led him to create The Bar Book, a technology platform designed to learn individual flavor preferences and recommend products based on what someone actually enjoys. We discuss the science behind flavor, the craftsmanship involved in brewing and distilling, and how entrepreneurship can take an unexpected interest and turn it into an entirely new mission.That mission expanded into CRAFT—the Coalition to Represent American Flavor and Tradition—which brings together veteran-owned companies across the adult beverage industry, including alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic alternatives, sodas, sports drinks, and more. Mr. Waskewhich explains his push to get dedicated veteran-owned product sections into military exchanges and increase veteran-brand representation at military and veteran events. We also discuss Frontline Tastings at the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa on September 24, 2026, along with future collaborations involving Military Creator Con and other veteran-focused communities.At the heart of this conversation is something much bigger than beverages: veterans helping veterans build what comes next. Mr. Waskewhich and I talk about entrepreneurship after military service, using military-developed problem-solving skills in business, learning from mistakes, networking without treating everyone as competition, and approaching successful people as potential mentors. For veterans wondering whether they are capable of building something after uniformed service, this episode is a reminder that the leadership, adaptability, persistence, and community mindset developed in the military can become some of their greatest entrepreneurial advantages. https://supportcraft.org/event/frontline-tastings-mic2026https://thebarbook.app/Website: https://coupleonukes.comDiscounted Military Creator Con Tickets: http://militarycreatorcon.com/register?afmc=MCCMWExodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/Want to be a guest on Couple O' Nukes? Send me a message on PodMatch:  https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1726279485588093e83e0e007 Sign Up For A PodMatch Account: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/coupleonukes*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.