EP 110 : From Uniform to Purpose: A Dual Military Couple’s Journey Into Wellness, Reinvention & NutFrusion

In this final Veteran & Military Family Appreciation Month spotlight, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Tahnohn and Sherry Hayes — a dual-military couple, proud parents, and the founders of NutFrusion, a San Diego–based handcrafted snack company rooted in resilience, clean ingredients, and purpose. Their story spans deployments, parenthood, medical transition, entrepreneurship, and faith — offering a raw, inspiring look into what it means to rebuild after service and create a business grounded in health, community, and lived experience. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: The Intersections That Shape Them From race, culture, faith, service, and parenthood to caregiving and entrepreneurship — how identity has guided every chapter of their lives. Military Life as a Dual-Service Family Navigating deployments, relocations, raising three children, and finding stability in community support networks. Rebuilding After Medical Retirement How Tahnohn’s MS diagnosis shifted everything — identity, purpose, and the path forward. The Origin Story of NutFrusion Born from necessity: clean-ingredient trail mixes and fruit chips created to support health during a major life transition. Entrepreneurship with Purpose How they’ve built NutFrusion into a beloved local brand while balancing full careers, teaching, parenting, and community leadership. Advice for Young Professionals Community-building, understanding your strengths, embracing pivots, asking for help, and leading with authenticity. Meet the Guests Tahnohn Hayes – U.S. Navy Veteran & Founder, NutFrusion A Navy veteran whose career was cut short by a sudden MS diagnosis, Tahnohn rebuilt his life one decision at a time, ultimately founding NutFrusion — a handcrafted snack company focused on flavor, clean ingredients, and wellness. Through entrepreneurship, he reclaimed purpose, control, and a mission to serve others through nourishing food. Sherry Hayes – U.S. Navy Veteran, UCSD Lecturer & Operations Leader Sherry served 21 years in the Navy, advancing from Hospital Corpsman to Environmental Health Officer, with assignments across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Today she is a Continuing Lecturer at UCSD Rady School of Management, a project management & public health expert, and the operations backbone of NutFrusion. Her certifications include PMP, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, CPH, and she is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Support Their Veteran-Owned Business NutFrusion – Handcrafted Trail Mixes & Fruit Chips Website: https://www.nutfrusion.com Instagram: @nutfrusion Facebook: NutFrusion LinkedIn (Sherry): https://www.linkedin.com/in/servewithexcellence 📘 Featured Resource: Military Shoppers Guide Tahnohn and Sherry are featured in the 2025 Military Shoppers Guide, a curated collection of veteran-owned businesses, gift ideas, and resources designed to support military families and entrepreneurs. 👉 Download the 2025 Military Shoppers Guide (PDF) About the Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo is an Inclusive Workplace Strategist, author, and CEO of EQImindset. She helps organizations build communities of belonging through ERG/BRG strategy, leadership development, and storytelling. Connect with Dr. Lola on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. ✨ Your intersections are powerful. Your story matters. Keep thriving. — Dr. Lola Adeyemo Send us Fan MailSupport the showThank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:www.immigrantsincorporate.orgConnect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.