The Brighten Up Pod goes eXtreme with a Militant Sense of Duty to Family
Mon Feb 02 2026
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Hello Listeners! We are back for another installment of The Brighten Up Pod! Warning: This episode is not for the faint of heart. The premise begins with a simple question that today's guest sought to discover the answer to: Can a positive impact be created by teaching children the core values of the military?
In today's episode, Donna sits down with Colonel Joseph Land, founder of the youth leadership program, Extreme Military Challenge (XMC). For most, this program would appear like a boot camp with a "scared-straight" approach to behavioral modification. The curriculum, however, is far from that misconception. XMC is NOT some correctional facility for troubled youth – it teaches children a sense of duty to self and others by challenging them individually and collectively. This rigorous curriculum has demonstrated that inspiring leadership in others is about creating a yearning to succeed in tasks too difficult for most to accomplish. When children succeed in the program, they develop a monumental confidence that simply cannot be found elsewhere.
Donna connected with Colonel Land after she and her husband found the program and offered it to their 16-year-old son, Christian. He left as a boy and came back a gentleman. Despite the trials and tribulations, he wanted more and is on track to return for XMC's advanced program for Cadet Basic Training graduates.
Extreme Military Challenge Website:
https://www.xmccamp.com/
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For comments, questions, and positive vibes, TEXT US! Hello Listeners! We are back for another installment of The Brighten Up Pod! Warning: This episode is not for the faint of heart. The premise begins with a simple question that today's guest sought to discover the answer to: Can a positive impact be created by teaching children the core values of the military? In today's episode, Donna sits down with Colonel Joseph Land, founder of the youth leadership program, Extreme Military Challenge (XMC). For most, this program would appear like a boot camp with a "scared-straight" approach to behavioral modification. The curriculum, however, is far from that misconception. XMC is NOT some correctional facility for troubled youth – it teaches children a sense of duty to self and others by challenging them individually and collectively. This rigorous curriculum has demonstrated that inspiring leadership in others is about creating a yearning to succeed in tasks too difficult for most to accomplish. When children succeed in the program, they develop a monumental confidence that simply cannot be found elsewhere. Donna connected with Colonel Land after she and her husband found the program and offered it to their 16-year-old son, Christian. He left as a boy and came back a gentleman. Despite the trials and tribulations, he wanted more and is on track to return for XMC's advanced program for Cadet Basic Training graduates. Extreme Military Challenge Website: https://www.xmccamp.com/ Hey listeners, We're asking all our listeners to connect with us on social media to demonstrate their support. Give us a hello on any comments and we'll happily give shoutouts! We'd also love to highlight questions or comments from fans to say thanks! Keep following the sunshine! Facebook For the Memes and Positive Vibes: https://www.facebook.com/BrightenUpPod/ Instagram For Good Energy & Inspiration: https://www.instagram.com/brightenuppod/ Threads For Quick Bites of Wisdom: https://www.threads.net/@brightenuppod