An emerging veteran-owned company honoring an iconic World War II unit and the Army’s role in recovery efforts at Baltimore’s Key Bridge will be highlighted in May as part of the Association of the U.S. Army’s Army Matters podcast series.

First up is a podcast featuring Ruben Ayala, a Special Forces veteran who is now CEO and founder of Triple Nikel.

In 2020, Ayala realized that a lot of top military-themed retail brands had become politically polarizing, so he and three fellow veterans decided to create Triple Nikel Clothing, a military- and hip-hop-inspired line that embraces community and diversity.

During the podcast, Ayala shares how his mother was his original entrepreneurial inspiration, how the all-Black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion from World War II became the company’s shining light and how four veterans who knew absolutely nothing about creating clothing have helmed a thriving company.

The episode is available May 8.

Next, on May 22, the podcast features Col. Estee Pinchasin, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Baltimore District.

On March 26, a cargo ship crashed into and destroyed Baltimore’s Key Bridge, killing six people and creating chaos at one of America’s busiest ports. The Corps of Engineers has been a key responder to the disaster, devoting hours to clearing the federal waters and aiding in the recovery and investigation.

Pinchasin shares with AUSA what she and her team have focused on in the recovery efforts, her first thoughts when the accident happened and a touching story behind a photo taken when she was promoted to colonel.

Full details on the podcasts are available at https://www.ausa.org/podcast. Listeners also can subscribe to Army Matters for updates.