Semper Try: The Marine Veteran Amplifying Middle Minnesota’s Quietest Voices

Billy Lowe didn't plan to spend seven months in Marine Corps boot camp, but when stress fractures in his shins and feet threatened to derail his dream, a drill instructor's words from a third-floor barracks window changed everything: "Don't quit. You will be here one day."

That moment—and the resilience it demanded—is now the foundation of a new podcast bringing veterans, volunteers, and community leaders into living rooms across middle Minnesota. The "Semper Try" podcast, launched on the Marine Corps' 250th birthday this November, is Lowe's mission to capture the stories of everyday people who keep showing up, even when it's hard.

From Budweiser to Broadband

Lowe's journey to podcasting reflects the winding paths many middle Minnesotans take to find their calling. After nearly 20 years delivering and selling Budweiser across the Brainerd Lakes area, he shifted to a sales role at CTC, a regional fiber optic internet provider. The shift allowed him to reclaim family time in a region defined by frantic summer tourism, where every weekend can feel like a logistical marathon.

"Everybody really wants Wi-Fi," Lowe reflects, noting how both jobs share a core principle: honesty, quality products, and customer service that feels like neighborly help rather than a sales pitch.

For Lowe, selling internet isn't about gigabit speeds; it’s about connecting rural families to opportunities—remote work, telehealth, online education—that were once reserved for metro areas. The company's local roots and community-focused service align with his own values, honed through decades of volunteering.

Service as a Lifestyle

Lowe's commitment to service predates his podcast by nearly two decades. He moved to the Brainerd area in 2006, joined the local Jaycees chapter, and by 2010 was elected president—a role he juggled alongside the birth of his first son, his Budweiser route, and co-founding the Lil' Rubber Duckie Race, an annual fundraiser for youth sports that has since raised tens of thousands of dollars for local organizations. The Jaycees' motto—"Service to mankind is the best work of life"—became a guiding principle Lowe carries into every project.

Today, Lowe serves as second vice commander at American Legion Post 255 in Brainerd, where he manages the organization's gambling operations and coordinates community outreach. The post, officially named Carl Sydney Hanson Post 255, is a hub for veteran support and youth programming. Lowe also coaches youth trap shooting, a role that deepened his appreciation for volunteers who shape tomorrow's leaders. "How much this community helps each other," he says, is what makes the Brainerd Lakes area irreplaceable.

Why "Semper Try" Matters Now

The podcast's name—a play on the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful)—captures Lowe's philosophy: trying beats quitting every time. He launched the first episode on November 10, 2025, the Marine Corps' 250th birthday, a date steeped in personal pride and historical significance. The timing was also urgent. Only 66,000 World War II veterans remain alive in the United States, and Korean and Vietnam War veterans are aging rapidly. Lowe wants to preserve their voices before it's too late, asking, "How do we get those stories?"

Each episode blends military history with community storytelling, featuring veterans who served quietly, volunteers running nonprofits like Smiles for Jake (a suicide prevention movement Chaired by Lowe's wife, Jennifer), and coaches pouring late hours into youth sports.

The podcast isn't polished or scripted. You won't hear over-produced sound bites or studio perfection; instead, you hear the mic bumps, the pauses for thought, and the genuine laughter of two neighbors talking. Lowe records without notes, favoring conversational flow over rehearsal. "If there's something that's forgotten, we just come back to it in a later episode," he explains.

The Permission to Be Imperfect

For residents navigating their own transitions, Lowe offers a roadmap rooted in persistence and humility. His advice echoes the drill instructor's words: if you're going to quit, quit tomorrow, but make it through today. This mindset applies to job changes, volunteer burnout, or even parenting challenges in rural areas where resources are stretched thin.

Lowe also emphasizes the power of showing up imperfectly. The podcast's rough edges mirror the messy reality of community work, where success often means trying again after setbacks. For listeners in Willmar, Foley, or Becker, this authenticity is a permission slip to start their own projects, knowing perfection isn't the goal.

What Success Looks Like

Lowe measures success not in downloads but in community impact. "A few people running into me and saying, 'Oh, I didn't know that—keep it up,'" he says, is validation enough. He hopes the podcast becomes an archive of resilience, a collection of stories that might inspire a book two decades from now or help someone facing their own "quit tomorrow" moment.

Upcoming episodes will feature Jennifer Lowe discussing Smiles for Jake's suicide prevention work, as well as coaches, educators, and veterans whose contributions rarely make headlines. The goal is to answer a question Lowe poses implicitly in every conversation: What does it mean to keep trying when the outcome isn't guaranteed?

For middle Minnesota—a region where farming, forestry, and tourism define economic rhythms and where neighbors still know each other's names—the "Semper Try" podcast is both a mirror and a challenge. It asks us to see the drill instructor in our own lives, the voice urging us forward when stress fractures threaten to stop us. And it reminds us that the best stories aren't always written by the loudest voices, but by the ones who simply refuse to quit.

Feeling inspired? Be part of the conversation. Tune in to Billy Lowe’s latest episode of the “Semper Try” podcast on your favorite platform. Whether you’re looking for encouragement or new ways to get involved, there’s something in every episode for you. Give it a listen, share it with a friend, and let’s keep our community’s stories alive.