The Power Transformation Podcast
The Power Transformation Podcast with Alethea Felton is where unstoppable resilience meets life-changing success. This Top 5% ranked show dives deep into the extraordinary journeys of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and visionaries who have shattered obstacles, conquered adversity, and redefined success on their own terms.
Hosted by resilience expert Alethea Felton who has thrived with autoimmune disease since birth, overcome severe stuttering, and turned setbacks into stepping stones, this podcast delivers raw, inspiring conversations packed with actionable strategies for personal and professional growth.
Whether you're an ambitious leader, a high-achiever seeking motivation, or someone ready to transform challenges into breakthroughs, this podcast is your blueprint for success.
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The Power Transformation Podcast
118. A Marine’s Journey of Transforming Trauma Into Triumph with Anthony Cutno
What happens when life throws you into the depths of adversity—do you rise or retreat? In this electrifying episode, retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Anthony Cutno takes us on a raw and powerful journey of resilience, from surviving a traumatic brain injury to redefining his purpose as an entrepreneur, speaker, and author. With unwavering strength and the support of his close-knit circle Anthony proves that even in life’s toughest battles, transformation is possible. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that will challenge, inspire, and remind you of the power within to change yourself and the world around you.
Connect with Anthony:
Episode 118's Affirmation:
I am a radiant light, filled with purpose and boundless worth, making a meaningful difference in the world.
I invite you to leave a positive message with your insights, feedback, or uplifting message.
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Welcome to February and, with that being said, two episodes a week. Right now, I am trying out two episodes a week on the Power Transformation Podcast. I am your host, alethea Felton, and I'd like to welcome you to the show. For those of you who are new, I am so happy that you have graced this platform with your presence. I am so honored to have you and you are a part of a transformational, pivotal movement that is happening, and it is because of listeners like you that it is possible. And, furthermore, for those of you who have been with me since early on and from the beginning, I thank you and I'm grateful for you, but this podcast typically launches every Wednesday, but I'm trying something for February, and also possibly into March, where I am dropping two episodes a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Why this show is in high demand and I am grateful for that. I have guests who want to be on the show, interviews that are completed and need to be launched, and I'm trying something new because it's 2025 and a new year and, with that being said, the newness in our guest today is unbelievable.
Alethea Felton:Staff Sergeant Anthony Cutno is an entrepreneur. He is a retired military serviceman who was honorably discharged. He will share more about that, but he served faithfully, faithfully, faithfully in the United States Marine Corps and he is just an incredible human being with a story to share, and so I don't want to take more time away from him. Let's jump right into this interview and we begin here on the Power Transformation Podcast, where I share an affirmation, so that we are speaking those things into existence. So I will say the affirmation once and you repeat it I am a radiant light filled with purpose and boundless worth, making a meaningful difference in the world. I am so happy to have Staff Sergeant Anthony Cutno here on the Power Transformation Podcast. Welcome, anthony.
Anthony Cutno:Thank you for having me.
Alethea Felton:Of course, of course. I'm really excited to have you here, and Anthony and I met each other through an amazing entrepreneurial group that we're both in, and I've met so many incredible people in that network, including him and y'all. When I tell you he has a story of transformation that will absolutely blow your mind in such a great way and give hope to people out there from all walks of life, I'm telling you that's exactly who this man is. So, anthony, I'm going to jump right into this interview and I always like to start with a fun icebreaker question, okay, and it's just random, something lighthearted, so that we get to know you more. At the time of this interview, we're at the beginning of NFL season, football season, things of that nature, and I didn't ask you this prior, that nature, and I didn't ask you this prior. So I'm just wondering, anthony, if you have a favorite NFL team, which team is that?
Anthony Cutno:And why? Oh, always the same, the new one. That's my home team. That's where I'm from, that's where I'm born.
Alethea Felton:Yes, indeed, and y'all weren't playing. The other week I saw the post.
Anthony Cutno:We smashed them, Cowboys yeah.
Alethea Felton:Exactly.
Anthony Cutno:A brand new stadium at that. Yes, we did what we needed to do to embarrass them.
Alethea Felton:You sure did, you sure did, you sure did. And I told you offline when we first met that I love New Orleans and it's a beautiful city in terms of just the people, the culture, everything like that. So much respect for people who are from there. And you know you have such a story. But before we get into that to find out about your origins and what brings you to who you are now, this is a broad question and you can answer it any way that you want to, as briefly or as long as you like. But if a person were to ask you who is Anthony Cutno, what would you say?
Anthony Cutno:I'd say I'm a perfect, imperfect man.
Alethea Felton:Tell us more about that.
Anthony Cutno:What you mean, because you went off on the deep end.
Anthony Cutno:I like that like, um, like, I know, I know I'm not perfect, I know I'm not, I'm not perfect, I made mistakes and you know all that stuff. Like, yeah, I'm not, I made mistakes, lied, all that stuff, all everything. However, at the same time, I know, I know the kind of man I am. I'm not a messed up individual, I'm not a woman beater, manipulator, I don't do anything to kids, I try and take care of my family and stuff like that. So that's what I'm saying. I know I am a good man, I am a real good man, I am fully aware of that. I walk in, know I am a good man, I am a real good man, I am fully aware of that. Uh, walking and I live it. However, I'm not perfect either. So you know this day and age and stuff like that, all that stuff. That's why I say that exactly and real talk.
Alethea Felton:No one is perfect and and we are all. I think I can speak for me. I'm just trying my best to be a light and a change in this world and to continue to grow and to learn. And so let's kind of take it back some to your early origins and in just knowing that you grew up between New Orleans and also you lived in Atlanta and things like that, when you think about your upbringing and your childhood, anthony, who were some of the most or one of the most significant influences in your life that shaped your mindset and your values before you even considered joining the military, who was influential in your life?
Anthony Cutno:My own dad, my dad.
Alethea Felton:How so.
Anthony Cutno:He, he's I consider him a perfect imperfect to also. He uh, came a long way, you know, made a lot of mistakes, a lot, a lot of real bad mistakes, you know. You know, growing up, living life and stuff like that. However, at the same time, even through all of that he was going through dealing with and everything else, he still made sure we were good. You know, my mom divorced when I was young.
Anthony Cutno:Because of him, you know, and and he and I like I love the fact that he never kept it a secret, he always took accountability, this, and that you basically don't do what I do, don't be like me. He always may like be better than me, this and that it took him years and years and years to like almost 50, I'd say close to 50, going into 40, before he actually, you know, clicked and, you know, fully changed and this and that. But throughout all that, no matter what he had going on, he made sure we were good, yeah, all that's well, gave us values. Everything I have now is because of him, family-oriented, stuff like that. So my, my dad and he and I love the fact that he didn't hide his flaws yeah, and tried to.
Anthony Cutno:He didn't you know. He made it know, like I'm not perfect this and that, but, however, when it came to family, kids and learning from your mistakes and this and that, and, and yeah, that was him. And to this day, like yesterday, it's the same way. He's still the same.
Alethea Felton:Wow, and that's actually pretty honorable, in spite of things that he did, the fact that he made certain to instill values into his children, to say, hey look, I've messed up.
Alethea Felton:I messed up a lot, but you don't have to go in the route that I've gone. That is definitely a really pivotal, important moment in the lives of kids, because my father always would say more things are caught than taught, meaning that children are always watching. Children are always looking at us, whether it's our own children or the children around us, and so even when we were growing up, we would see things adults did, and it's very easy to emulate what someone else does, just off of the fact that we love them or look up to them. So the fact that your father instilled that in you is quite honorable, to say the least. And as you continue growing, you actually have a very interesting story in terms of the fact as I called you up front staff sergeant, which is true, but you've actually had an extensive military career, starting with the Air Force. So share a bit about your journey from high school to joining the Air Force and what in the world motivated you to even want to pursue a military career.
Anthony Cutno:That's a story in itself. So I was very violent. I was very violent. I got in a lot of fights in school and stuff. So one of the last big fights which they included everything in between was back at home. So I ended up getting put out of the state. So I had to go, I had to leave the state and um, and then had to go to atlanta with my dad and this was the first time seeing seeing my dad in like I would say like a year or two or something like that, but still talked on the phone and still had a relationship, like we was off, no issues.
Anthony Cutno:So I went to go live with him in atlanta and I ended up graduating from stone mountain. No, I graduated. I went to go live with him in Atlanta and I ended up graduating from Stone Mountain. No, I went to Stone Mountain and I graduated from Redan High School in Stone Mountain, georgia. So after that I stayed in Atlanta trying to figure out what I was going to do and all that stuff like that, and I went back to Louisiana to live with my mom and went right back to the streets. I had no job, I had no school, I was just like that.
Anthony Cutno:So one day she because my dad was in the Air Force and he got put out the Air Force and my mom was going to follow him, but she was going to go to the Air Force Academy, but then she found out she was pregnant with me. So that that that, scratch that. So she was going to the store, walmart, something, something like that, and but anyway, do? We ended up at the Air Force Recruiting Office and she was like sign the papers or you ain't going back to my house. So I was like what? Sign the papers, you ain't going back to my house. You need to do something Because I got a couple partial scholarships to some real good schools MIT, georgia.
Anthony Cutno:Tech Wow yeah but I just I had the right mindset, so, and then I couldn't get no, no other scholarships or anything. So, like I took the test, signed the papers and, boom, I'm in the Air Force. So, um, finished, boot, whatever. And I was in Shepherd. I was in Shepherd Air Force Base for school. And same mindset nobody watching me, girls everywhere, I was 21. I was 21. I turned 21 in boot camp. Nobody watching me, I'm in my own room, free to go, come and go. So I'm still in that mindset. You know people that know a shepherd as well, like the nurses, and all them go to school.
Alethea Felton:So it's like women.
Anthony Cutno:So that was my mindset back then. And being late, showing up late, not really taking it serious, and stuff like that. So I didn't get in a real trouble. I just you know stuff like that. So I forgot what happened.
Anthony Cutno:It was a second school, it was a second school and it just kept going on so long story short. It was like failure to, and it just kept going on so long story short. There was like failure to adapt and getting put out. So, um, I was talking to my mom at the time. My mom was working for, um, home and security. They weren't called ice, I think, they were just called home and security then or something like that.
Anthony Cutno:So she was working for them and that's what she did not? She not really, really, really on time in front of them and so everybody that she worked with, including her super direct supervisor, and they were all Marines, all of them. They were all Marines and they knew my little kid growing up and stuff like that. So I was talking with the army because I'm like I can't get, I can't go back, I can't go back because I've there's another story behind that story. So I was like I can't go back this and that, so I was gonna go be a one officer in the army in the army, and so I was like, all right, cool. I told my mom and she put me on the phone with I think it was her supervisor. I'm going to just go with that. I can't remember.
Anthony Cutno:I'm going to say her supervisor and he was like. He was like no, you're not going to the army, you're going to the Marines. I'm like what is the Marines? I never heard of the Marine Corps, really Never. Wow, I mean, I knew about the Navy, I never heard of them.
Alethea Felton:They don't play in the Marines they play it Like what is the Marines?
Anthony Cutno:He was like he explained to me what it was and stuff like that. That's like the Expressive Forces for the Military, that's the way he was telling me. Like no. He was like no, but they got him. But no, you're going, you're going to the marine corps. And he was like a recruiter's good crew to call him and immediately, like right after that, my phone was ringing on the back end. So it was like I was like my, it was like that's demo. So I clicked though it was a marine corps crew, so talked to them Like that's Duma. So I clicked over. It was a Marine Corps recruit, so talked to them and told them all of that. I was like I knew it was a Wednesday, I'm like I'm going to be home on a Wednesday. I told them I was talking with the Army and so I told them both. I said whoever shows up, come out that door, shake my hand and stuff like that, that's where I'm going. So he was like all right, cool. So did all the backing and stuff, talked with my mom about me and everything like that. So I get home and as I'm walking to the door, the Marine Corps recruiter is walking out.
Anthony Cutno:It was two of them, a male and a female, and I remember I was just talking I was my memory so came out, shook my hand, boom, that was it. I was like what an arm recruiter. The dude ain't never showed up the dude. When I told him I was talking with the ring card, he stopped talking to me and got to the house. He ain't even show up. The ring card recruiter did like an hour before I got there talking to my mom. Got to the house he didn't even show up the ring for recruiter like an hour before I got there talking my mom, stuff like that. And this was what I got on the Wednesday by that.
Alethea Felton:Tuesday yeah, I think like that Monday family who were in the military and my uncle, as I have shared with you, he was in the Marine. So I know all about Paris Island, but this is my thing. You made a little inside joke with me a few weeks ago where you were saying how, out of everything, you had Air Force and then the Marines. The Marines is no joke, right, and so the inside joke. And not to disrespect anybody in the Air Force, ok, I'm just going to preface that, because being in the military in general is not for the faint of heart. But you were saying how it was like a inside joke in terms of the fact that the easiest division was the Air Force and you got kicked out of that, but yet the hardest one was the Marinesines. This is my thing. Going back to when your mom told you up front you were going into the air force. Did you think she was joking at first? Like no, you knew she wasn't playing with you yes, hey wow so.
Alethea Felton:so now you're in the Marines. Okay, but there's a key part of the Marines that we left out of this and part of your journey, that's so, and that the fact that, in spite of having a disability, you still continue to thrive, move, shape, make ground X, y and Z. Now let's kind of take this in terms of you speaking from your unique path of being discharged from the Air Force to serving in the Marine Corps, while overcoming immense physical challenges. So let's talk about the role resilience has played in your journey, and how did you not allow your so-called disabilities, how did you not allow that, to keep you back from what you had to do To be?
Anthony Cutno:honest, I didn't even know I had it, I didn't even know I had it, so tell us about that.
Anthony Cutno:So I knew, so I don't know. So I knew about the plate and all that stuff. I knew that. I knew about that but I didn't know the severity of it, like it. I say it never really affected me like I had. I had a stutter, like I had a real bad stutter, but I was never bullied, never picked on, none of that stuff. So it was like it was just a part. It was just a part of me Like honestly got a little tease from friends and family and stuff like that, but you know little nickname, but like that's what it was. Like everybody knew I stuttered, that's it, you know. So I never, I never had that. I never had that.
Anthony Cutno:As far as everything I'm going with now, it is actually going with the timeline from the neurologist. But growing up, going through school and stuff like that, only issues I had was anger. I was angry all the time Somebody said something I was quick to go off. But other than that I ain't had no issue, never got again, never got bullied, never got teased was never in no special classes. They tried to put me in special ed as in elementary school, but I did a test that I knocked that off the water. So I was never really no, I didn't know, I just didn't know.
Alethea Felton:So quick question how did you get the plate in your head?
Anthony Cutno:you get the plate in your head. So, um, when I was younger I think I was like about three, four, five, somewhere up in um as, as a kid, at this time my parents were still married and, um, the story is, I was in the kitchen playing with my dad and somehow I end up on the counter and my mom and dad my mom was in there cooking no, it was in the family town in the kitchen. So somehow I end up on the counter and I jumped off. Oh, and when I jumped off, my dad's back was turned and so I jumped and he tried to catch me and boom, so um went to the hospital.
Anthony Cutno:Of course, you know, my head was cracked open and stuff, like they did what they did. And then um had, you know, I had to learn how to, what is it? I had to learn how to walk, write, you know, talk, all that stuff, you know all that stuff. Back again, um, um, right before puberty I don't remember my actual age, but right before puberty they put the plate in and I'm assuming because of that I really don't know, and honestly, I never even asked.
Alethea Felton:I got you? Yeah, Because often when a person thinks of a traumatic brain injury they'll think, okay, a car accident or a person got shot or something like that. No, it can happen from childhood accidents. A lot of kids just play, always play.
Alethea Felton:I'm very, very feminine now, but growing up I was a tomboy. I mean being from the South playing outside in the trees. I jumped from a plenty of tree back in my day and thank goodness I never got injured like that. But something as simple as jumping off of a counter can change it. But I also like the fact that, in spite of you having that, your mental cognition and awareness academically didn't really affect you in school, so you weren't having to go into specialized classes or anything like that. So, in terms of your journey with the Marines, take us to the point of you served for I want to say 14, 14 years Correct me if I'm wrong, but 14 years, if I recall successful in the Marine Corps, did your thing, moved all the way up to, I want to say, an E-6 staff sergeant, and then you end up going on 100 percent disability. Take us to what led to that.
Anthony Cutno:So it was a lot of stuff going on at the time.
Anthony Cutno:But with that I was on recruiting duty in Atlanta, in RS Atlanta, and I was recruited at this time. I was recruited in Macon and so was recruited at this time I was recruited in Macon, and so a master gun I want to say it was Master Gun Bell, I want to say it was him he came down there to the office because at this time it was only me and one other Marine that was the only recruiters in the office. I was out in the schools and stuff like that, still no recruiting, still making our numbers, and the other marine, he was taking care of all the office duties and stuff like that. And then when he could get out of office he goes. So me and him both was the only recruiters for like two, three months, four months, something like that.
Anthony Cutno:And so he came down there to check on us like they normally do, and he had asked about the scar, which I always get asked about. So I told him he was like you ever seen the neurologist while you was in? I was like no, he was like why? I'm like I ain't got no issue. He's like your headaches, you know, asking little random questions. I was like yeah, the same thing. But me and my mom think it's just regular stuff, not really paying attention to it and because, again, I have no real effects, knowingly, I'm going to say knowingly. And so he was like go see the neurologist, so that's an order. I took that as an order. So I was like go see the neurologist, so that's all. I took that as an order.
Anthony Cutno:So I went go see the neurologist and then boom, it was just, he just went down a lot, basically literally told me my entire life and why I did certain things, this and that, like went down the line and gave me the timeline, which is that time is now Like everything that man said started happening and everything he said that could happen. Because of this, if this happened, this is going to happen. If this happened, this is going to happen. And it happened. Every single thing that man said happened, every single thing that man said. And so the reason you're like, the reason why I never felt no effects from, is because of what I was doing. What I was doing was basically masking everything and I was my, my body was naturally adapting to it, so I was having effects my entire life and just didn't know it. I'm just like headaches, sleep, no migraines, this and that it's just. I'm just going through life, so.
Anthony Cutno:But he was like. He was like because of where is that how it is? And this is the original plate and it was never changed out. The plate was supposed to be changed out every 10 years. Oh, and this is the original plate that was put in and that this plate is is fused to my brain and the skull is fused to that. Uh, it is now. Now it's dented at the time it wasn't, but now it is and a scar. But my entire life, the scar tissue and everything else was just going in my brain doing what it was doing. Basically, all that stuff was just going in my brain doing what it was doing.
Alethea Felton:And question then did they also say because, thinking back to when you said in your younger years you were very violent, could that have also been possibly attributed to it?
Anthony Cutno:Yeah, that is why, because it goes from here all the way to here. So the front part all the way to the back part of your right side. Yeah, it comes out to like right here so all this part of the bone was, has been affected, and the domino effect and so on yeah.
Alethea Felton:So for people who are listening and not seeing the video, anthony pointed to the front part of his skull area on the right side, all the way to the back, so it's pretty much affected just about that entire right part of your brain and skull. That is absolutely amazing and it does make sense now as to why you would have those outbursts. So once you went to the neurologist, was it then that they said I'm not sure how much longer you'll be able to be in the Marine?
Anthony Cutno:No, it was immediate. He immediately put me on the non-deployable list. Wow, basically just started the process.
Alethea Felton:Your whole life changed that quickly.
Anthony Cutno:Yeah. So it was like one good fall, one good punch, car accident, fall one good punch, uh, car accident. I'm either going to be a vegetable or I'm going to be forever change or I could die. Yeah, those are my, my choices. And then, as I age, it's just going to get worse and worse, which has been happening so, and then stress and stuff like that, and then, coincidentally, at the exact same time, I'm being told that, going through all of that, I'm going through a divorce at the at the same time. So, going through, so my wife just out the blue, literally like out the blue, just up and up. I'm in the doctor's office being told, so I'm going to have to go through, see all these specialists now. So I'm in the sleep, the sleep doctor, and he's going to my sleep admin and yeah, you can turn your airbag on.
Alethea Felton:It is.
Anthony Cutno:So I'm feeling a little woman, and so the sleep doctor is telling the result, basically telling me I stop breathing in my sleep, I die in my sleep, I don't go anywhere. I'm asleep going all down the list, this and that, and I get a call. I get a call from my sister that my wife is leaving and taking my son and out the blue ran, and she know I'm going through all this stuff. This is literally the beginning of all of this, and so dealing with that and that's another story itself dealing with all of that and then boom. So now it was a immediate thing where it took a total of maybe three, four months, five months, and going through all the doctors, going to appointments at the same time, dealing with the divorce at the same time and dealing with working at the same time. So they took me off of recruiting duty and put me as the admin chief of the whole rs, which is my actual marine corps job at administration wow so it took me because of my rank.
Anthony Cutno:It took me, you know, put me in there, which is, you know, my job, ended lining up with the dude that was leaving and stuff like that. So I did that while I was going through the whole process of, you know, getting out and the VA and divorce and stuff like that. And so that was it within what. This was October, it was my birthday, it was my birth. It was.
Alethea Felton:It was my birthday month because month because, um, yeah, because, yeah that I'm going to another story, wow, so so how old were you when all of this happened 34. Your life changes like that. So so much of our identities are wrapped in our careers. Do in our passions, right. So here you have a 14 year career not even realizing.
Anthony Cutno:I was about to get promoted to how, if it, if it, if it would have, if it would have went on another month, I'd have got promoted. Oh my gosh, you would have gotten a promotion in a month I'd have got promoted.
Alethea Felton:I got promoted, my gosh, you would have gotten a promotion in a month. Yeah, my goodness. So your life now literally changes. Tell me if you can think back then b because it's been about about seven years or so now, but think back to when all of this information is coming. The life as you knew it is now gone. Talk about when you're in that first moment of being totally out of the Marines and you're coming to this new life. What happened at that moment?
Anthony Cutno:new life. What happened at that moment? Um, so I signed, so my divorce is tied into into this. Okay, so I was going through a divorce at the same time. During that time, um, I didn't see my ex-wife or or my son. I didn't know where they was for like a couple months, and so she eventually called. That's a whole nother story.
Alethea Felton:Yeah, we don't.
Anthony Cutno:So the day before I retired, the day before my retirement ceremony, I signed my divorce papers. The day before my retirement ceremony, I signed my divorce papers, and during divorce papers I got custody of my son.
Alethea Felton:Okay.
Anthony Cutno:So signed the divorce papers. Boom, I'm divorced, I get custody of my son, I'm a single father. Next day, boom, I retire, I get retired. So by this time I already know my rating. I get out at uh, at 90. So I'm like all right. Boom now I'm like what the f? Am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? So my sister, my sister moves in, moves in with me, and so I'm still going through all these medical process at the same time. So all this medical stuff going to the doctors, finding this out, finding that out, this and that, all that stuff, being a single dad, my son was two, three at the time.
Alethea Felton:Oh, he was a baby.
Anthony Cutno:Yeah, so he's time. Oh, he was a baby. Yeah, wow, he's five. No, he's nine now, so he's like two, three at the time.
Alethea Felton:Two or three yeah.
Anthony Cutno:So, all right, Then I don't have a job. So you know, I still I'm literally living off of my savings. My last check until maybe, like the very next month, I started getting my VA money. So my mind is literally I can't focus on me. I still got to handle myself medically, but I I'm not focused on focus on divorce, all the depression, suicidal feelings, all I'm going through all of that.
Anthony Cutno:Yeah, crying, boohooing, why all of that, all of that stuff. And I'm adjusting to being a civilian and I'm adjusting to that. So it's a whole bunch of adjustments going on. So I'm like, all right, he has to go to daycare, he has to do this, this and this. So I literally get into that mode, daddy mode. I'm like, all right, and I'm still dealing with the lawyers, doing the final little stuff. That is done, all right. Now it's just me and my son and loving my sister with that. That helped me. If it wasn't for my sister, my dad, my stepmom, my siblings, that was like 10 minutes away. I wouldn't be able to do that because I was going through Wow, do that. Because I was going through wow, that was that was. That was my mindset for like, uh, it took me to get through all of that it took me about a year or so.
Anthony Cutno:Then then my little girl came, so that that's a whole nother story and somehow it came about. But depression, suicidal thoughts, wanting comforting, sadness is it's an easy target, it's an easy time. And so then then, because of all that stress and everything I was going through, it kick-started from the neurologist uh, stress, if high under stress, like can, and I felt that it will kill me, it will cause stuff to happen, and that just sped up everything mentally, stress and all that stuff, um, a little thing. So, yeah, it took me. It took me a while, took me a while. So, yeah, it was a lot. A lot of drinking, yeah, late nights up at night, sleepless nights uh, a lot it was a lot.
Alethea Felton:That's real. Yeah, that's real because and and that's real, and that's why I love interviewing guests, because people will see our successes and see where we are now and have no idea sometimes of the stories that have gotten us there and that sometimes people think that they're in the fight alone. But when they hear stories like you and it's leading me to the fact that now, with you being an entrepreneur, you're an entrepreneur, an author, a speaker getting out there really sharing your story is when you were saying how you had those suicidal thoughts. A lot of people have them. A lot of people hit rock bottom. I know what it's like to get rock bottom and to have those thoughts. But who or what gave you the inspiration, anthony, to keep going for one more day as opposed to just ending it all and taking your life? Take us to that moment.
Anthony Cutno:My kids, my kids. Are you going to cry? My kids don't know. They say I'm not alive. So I was going to kill myself. This was like the second, third time.
Alethea Felton:Okay.
Anthony Cutno:I told you I was living off my savings, I was gone, wasn't working this and that. So all that stuff and a whole bunch of other stuff that was going on. I was sitting in a chair, in my chair, and my son went to the refrigerator and I'm sitting there. This is what I'm thinking about. He don't know. This is what I'm thinking about how to do it so that my kids can still get their money, get their stuff. Got you? Yeah, this is what I'm doing.
Anthony Cutno:And he go to the refrigerator mine this time. He was like he was young. He was still young, but he was old enough to walk in the refrigerator, open and stuff like that. So he go in the refrigerator. He say, daddy, I'm hungry. And so he go in the refrigerator. He said, daddy, we don't have no food, I ain't have no money. So I'm like all right, I'm going to think of something. Make him something, eat something. So he was like but, daddy, we can go by Papa's house and eat. Papa, papa, mimi always got food. Like fuck.
Anthony Cutno:I was like I cannot kill myself and leave him in here. I can't kill myself. So I was like all right, so we go to my dad's house and we eat and told my dad he give me some money, go get some groceries and that's it. Another time my little girl my little girl did it was Father's Day girl. My little girl did it was my, it was father's day. It was. It wasn't bad, but it didn't go how father's day supposed to go. So it was like 11 something and me and her mom none, so it was like 11 something. I'm sitting outside smoking and stuff like that and.
Anthony Cutno:I get a call. She called, she said and I get a hey daddy, happy father's day, daddy. And that right there, so it.
Alethea Felton:Wow, that is. That is quite amazing, and thank you for being that open about it, because so many people suffer in silence and have those types of thoughts and want to do it and just don't think that anybody else understands. And that's real. And I think that what's so incredible about your story, anthony, is that you have said that many Marines currently look up to you and find courage through through your story. So this is what I wonder is what got you to the point from having suicidal thoughts, from struggling, not knowing what you were going to do next with your life, to the point where you are now, where you've created your own company. You are doing more speaking opportunities, you're building more of your brand and your business, you're writing books. How in the world did you get here?
Anthony Cutno:uh, the Marine Corps, so for real. So when I was a recruiter getting out all that stuff like that, I was the admin chief recruiting station in Atlanta. Sergeant Major Clay, sergeant Major Timothy O Clay yes he came there so me and him connected man.
Anthony Cutno:He was with me, I was going through all that stuff, so he knows everything, and so kept him to the personal level stuff like that, that's what Marines do so did all of that and he was writing his book. He was writing his book from here to there that's the name of his book. He was writing his book from here to there that's the name of his book. He was writing his book with Dr Oliver Reed and the writing coach. They signed Major Clay and I still call him my son. I know I don't have to, I still call him. He's going forever.
Alethea Felton:Respect, yeah, respect.
Anthony Cutno:So he was talking to Dr Reed about me. I don't know how I came up or anything like that. More than likely he had brought me up because he was telling me I should write a book. So he called me up because he was trying to write a book. So he called me, like he does if he was late at night. And he called me and he always tried to get me called, get me not to ask for a phone. We called and I always do that, except for one time. So he called me and he was like what you doing?
Anthony Cutno:and he was like, uh, he was. He was like about writing a book, this and that, writing my book, blah, blah, blah. And he put me on the phone with Dr Reed. Basically it was, he was already on the phone and it just went on from there. So talked to Dr Reed, told him my story, boom, started writing my book. And then he did a He-Man conference, which we doing another one in Fort Lauderdale next week, and he was doing a He-Man conference in Haightville, atlanta, and so Sergeant Major Clay called and was like you should come to Haightville and meet me in Haightville at the He-Man Conference, dr Rita Doug.
Anthony Cutno:So I went and at that conference that's where I met Jose Escobar, who became my own business mentor and all of this. Then I met Amelia Ramon, who was an AMA who got me into barterists. You know I did that. Then I met Raul, raul Marine. Then I met Dr Reed, who met face-to-face. So I just met my core mentors in this speaking around the world. And no, god bless, jose, he immediately took me under his wing and it just went on from there. After that, after hateville, it just went on from there, started writing, speaking, going to events, doing the podcast. It just went on from there. So when people ask how I got into this stuff, I literally say the raincoat got me into.
Alethea Felton:It's because of the rainbow sure did, and it's just so astonishing how your life can change in an instant and sometimes people make that context like anything can happen and your life can change. But what I mean is that your life can change in a good, outstanding, amazing, phenomenal way in an instant. It's not all bad. Your life can really change just like that, all bad. Your life can really change just like that and based on your character and who you are, and just people knowing what you have to offer to the world and to others can really get you there.
Alethea Felton:And for people listening or watching this, these names he's dropped, these are with some of the people I've gotten to know and they are incredible people in this space, incredible men, male entrepreneurs, who are doing it and living it up.
Alethea Felton:And the thing is this while they have wide and broad and deep success, it's just not all about what they can get out of it. These group of people he's named are all about helping others win. They're not trying to keep it all to themselves. And so, anthony, that's what you're even doing now, because I can say, you know, with some of those men, they have been very influential in my life in just the last couple of months. And what I want to do is keep this focus on you, and so, with that being said, is that your story is such an example of turning pain into purpose and say, if there's a fellow Marine, or just someone right now in general, that is going through crisis and don't know which way to turn, don't know their own strength or power, what is something that you would recommend to somebody else going through hell and back right now that they can take to start transforming their struggles into strength and empowerment? What would you tell them to do?
Anthony Cutno:I tell them to talk to me, sit down and have a conversation with me. Go to my website and go to my website divineworsedomissioncom. I have a briefing on my bio that explains. It goes into my death before I, before I was born, which is a whole another story. We can another time. Yeah, go Go to my website, read my bio, get my free assessment. You can sit down and have a conversation and I will bring them through my journey. And you know, with my business now being a mindset coach, speaker, author, that's what I'm doing now Helping men and veterans get through what I went through, so me.
Anthony Cutno:I was blessed that I didn't do it alone. I had, I had God, had the Lord help me through it, get me through it. But it took me, literally forcing myself to change my mindset, the way way I was thinking, the way I was looking at the world, looking at things. So I tell them I've been there, I am there. So you know, if they want anything, anything, they want someone to talk to, someone to help them along, coach them along. Someone to help them along, coach them along someone to stop them from killing themselves.
Anthony Cutno:Because, luckily for me, my kids were there. If my kids weren't there, I wouldn't be talking to you. So you know, and then at the I didn't know, I had people to call and talk to at the time because I was embarrassed, scared and you know all that between. So I tell them come and talk to me, sit down with me, take my program, we can work out whatever needs to be worked out. And, you know, connect them with the He-Man, with the He-Man community, which is a group of men helping men, because there are no groups out there that have to help men and that's what we're doing. And then we sit down, talk and move on and I show them how I turn all my trauma and pain into success, into what I'm doing now.
Alethea Felton:That's right and I will put the website links on the show notes and it can. People also follow you on social media.
Anthony Cutno:Yeah, follow me on Instagram at Anthony 504. Underscore USMC. Anthony Cutno. On Facebook, tiktok, linkedin. That's, that's my name. I'm out there. Son-o is at the bottom right here, so I'm asking you to find me uh again website is there.
Anthony Cutno:It's up and running. Uh, my audio books are there. You know they can get. My audio books is is basically taking them through. Everything that I've been through, you know, changing, changing my understanding of my inner self, changing my understanding and my perception of the outer world that would change my self-awareness of myself. Maybe, you know, got to push yourself, I need to change. And then you know, my new mindset is what I'm in right now. So, yeah, it was the Lord, god and circle that got me.
Alethea Felton:Exactly yeah, and I will have all of that up there as we bring this to a close. Anthony, I couldn't help but think about that young boy that you once were, that young teenager, the young man who first entered into the military, Based on who you are now as a 40-something-year-old grown man who's experienced so much in the world. If you could talk to that younger, violent version of yourself, what would you tell him?
Anthony Cutno:As of right now I'm 40, on the dot in October, in October I would tell my younger self to calm the F down. That's literally. I would tell myself I wouldn't change anything about my life except to be more calm. I was out there. So, like I say, I was never teasing bullies. Like I say I was never teased and bullied. So people can just take that I was out there, somebody say something, and again, I was never teased, I was never bullied. That was my mindset. I would just calm down. I tell myself, just calm down.
Alethea Felton:Damn, I tell myself, just calm down, calm down. And the last question when your kids are adults and when you become an old man and eventually pass away, what do you want your children to remember the most about you? What do you want your legacy for them to be?
Anthony Cutno:That they are my, why I don't do this for me. I do this for them, yes, and everything that they have and going to have is because of what I'm doing right now, is because of what I'm doing right now, and that they saved me so that I can save them and leave them with all of this. They're going to see my writing. You're going to see my books. They're going to see all of this and then, no matter what they, mama, say, they're going to know how they, daddy, really was.
Alethea Felton:Thank you so much, anthony. This has been absolutely incredible. It's an honor to know you and to be acquainted with you in this circle, and I just thank you sincerely for taking time to be a guest on the Power Transformation podcast. The world needs to hear your message, so continue doing what you do and just know how incredibly blessed I have been just to have this conversation with you. Thank you, no problem.
Anthony Cutno:It's all good, it's all good.
Alethea Felton:Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Power Transformation Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe, leave a five-star rating and write a review. It helps us inspire even more listeners. And don't keep it to yourself. Share it with someone who could use a little power in their transformation. Until next time, keep bouncing back, keep rising and be good to yourself and to others.
