OTD - In 1965 astronaut Edward Higgins White II became the first American to walk in space THE INTERVIEW Providing guidance to veterans navigating their VA services and benefits has turned Army National Guard veteran Joshua Parish into an entrepreneur. He has created Battle Buddy, a mobile app built to streamline access to services, support mental …

Retired Navy SEAL Matt Stevens helps The Honor Foundation guide members of the Special Forces community toward rewarding civilian careers. Stevens talks about how to discover your “why,” developing contacts and other tips for developing executives. THE SCUTTLEBUTT Down the Reddit Rabbit Hole: The Meaning of Memorial Day The fallout of banned books …

THE INTERVIEW Native Americans serve at a higher percentage than the general population. Still, there are misunderstandings about their culture and spiritual beliefs even among their brothers and sisters in the armed forces. In this week's episode, Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan talks about her military service as a Native American, importance of c…

Constitutional fun facts in honor of The American Legion National Oratorical Competition Finals THE INTERVIEW Army combat veteran Blake Hall created his company to protect veterans from identity theft. Veterans are more than 80% likely to have their identity stolen than other Americans. Learn how ID.me prevents fraud in this week’s episode. SCUTTLE…

Veterans, fourth-graders get special access to National Parks THE INTERVIEW Army combat veteran Chris Marvin has found his passion and purpose in America’s national parks. In 2020, Marvin established the Park-to-Park Tour project to help share national parks with his children as a way to demonstrate the purpose and legacy of his own military servic…

Operation Frequent Wind: Remembering the end of the Vietnam War THE INTERVIEW Air Force veteran Josh White hosts the award-winning podcast Hero Front, which focuses on mental health awareness and resiliency. Josh shares inspiring stories of veterans, authors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and other heroes. The storytelling podcast emerged from Wh…

American Legion Family Day THE INTERVIEW Navy veteran Vic Martin struggled after suffering a brain injury, receiving mental health diagnoses and being medically retired. After hitting bottom and attempting suicide, Martin now dedicates his life to helping others find their purpose and the mental health care they need. SCUTTLEBUTT World Autism Aware…

Marine Corps veteran Hank Donigan has survived brain cancer and coped with severe PTSD. He has transformed personal adversity into extraordinary achievement. On Monday, April 21, Donigan will complete his 500th marathon at the 2025 Boston Marathon, a testament to his resilience and dedication. SCUTTLEBUTT How Comic Legend Mel Brooks Defused Land Mi…

Remembering the anniversary of the fall of Baghdad THE INTERVIEW Kyle Hausmann-Stokes won the 2024 South by Southwest Audience Award for his directorial debut of the feature film "My Dead Friend Zoe," which he also co-wrote and produced. The film is a creative take on the post-war experience and a tribute to veterans of all generations. Hausmann-St…

April is American Legion Children & Youth Month THE INTERVIEW Retired Marine Corps veteran Robert Yarnall talks about leadership, preventing veteran suicide and more. Throughout his career, he has mentored veterans, athletes and others through leadership lessons he was taught in the military. As vice president of Development and Impact for the Robe…

National Medal of Honor Day THE INTERVIEW Access to food, childcare, transportation, mental health resources, social connection and more are key issues facing veterans in their first year transitioning out of the military. Air Force veteran Abby Kinch shares how Student Veterans of America is addressing these needs with its Basic Needs and Wellness…

When veterans return to the civilian world, they often encounter challenges related to employment and mental health. That’s where having a tribe can be a game changer. Retired Army Col. Adam Rocke and retired Army Gen. Paul Funk II share how finding a tribe can help with improving mental health, finding a job and more on this week’s episode of Tang…

Sleep expert Dr. Tina Burke shares her experience working with veterans, first responders and others who have trouble sleeping and provides tips on how to improve sleep including meditation, breathing techniques and establishing a routine. SCUTTLEBUTT Anna Coleman Ladd: the American woman who sculpted new faces for battle-scarred WWI vets The Heali…

Retired Col. Sam Whitehurst found his purpose during his nearly 30 years in the Army. Whitehurst developed a passion for uplifting and developing the soldiers around him. That experience smoothed his civilian transition to his role at the Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services where he helps veterans and their families. Whitehurst discusse…

What's on the menu for “Let’s All Eat Right” day THE INTERVIEW Dr. Columbus Batiste honed his skills as a cardiologist while working for the VA. He is working to reduce the number of deaths from heart disease, which surpassed 702,000 in 2022. In celebration of Heart Health Month, he joins the Tango Alpha Lima podcast to share how veterans can prote…

Celebrating National Vet Girls Rise Day THE INTERVIEW Army veteran John Davis lives in the Dominican Republic, scuba dives, plays golf and works as a veteran advocate. In this episode, he shares what veterans need to know about the process to move abroad, what to do in advance, how to take care of their health care, mental wellness and much more. S…

Army 1st Lt. Austin von Letkemann, better known to his Instagram followers as MandatoryFunDay, shares his unusual rise to fame on the podcast. His Instagram channel, with 20 million monthly views, features comedy videos that poke fun at various parts of military life. SCUTTLEBUTT Medals of Honor, delayed nearly 120 years due to administrative issue…

Stacy, Joe and Adam look forward to the holidays and observances in February, including African American History Month, International Women’s Day, Valentines Day, Change Your Password Day, and GI Joe Day. THE INTERVIEW After making history, Kamin Samuel struggled upon leaving the military. Now she is an entrepreneur, best-selling author and documen…

California Legion members standing strong and supporting communities devastated by wildfires. THE INTERVIEW Patrick Murphy, who joined the Army at 19, worked his way up to become the 32nd Army Under Secretary and America’s first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress. Today, he continues to serve his brothers and sisters. SCUTTLEBUTT Happy Birthday …

American Folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier talks about her addiction recovery, mental health journey and how she uses songwriting to help veterans with PTSD. She works with veterans on their healing through songwriting with SongwritingWith:Soldiers. “What I try to emphasize is that this can be of service to other people — a lifeline a…

Retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Col. Lee Ellis, who was shot down and captured during the Vietnam War, talks about leadership and team building lessons he learned during his five years as a prisoner of war, as well as throughout his military service and his 25 years as a leadership coach. SCUTTLEBUTT Now is the time to plan for the 100th Anniv…

We kick off the new year with a few resolutions and a memory of Sammi, the Iraqi interpreter who worked with Joe and his Marines. THE INTERVIEW Mazin Mozan, who served as an interpreter with Stacy in Iraq shares his story of serving with Coalition forces, gaining a Special Immigrant Visa and moving to the United States, and his enlistment in the U.…

Navy veteran and Legionnaire Kelley Gilberry shares his knowledge about overcoming heart disease and obesity. After his own health journey, Gilberry is now on a mission to show others how to revolutionize their health without relying on pharmaceuticals. SCUTTLEBUTT Post Falls, Idaho American Legion offering free Christmas trees for veterans Keokuk,…

THE INTERVIEW National Military Family Association CEO Besa Pinchotti talks about her family roots in Kosovo, and how her time as a journalist led to her advocacy for American military families. She also explains how NMFA helps meet the immediate needs for military spouses and children as well as advocate for legislation to make permanent changes t…

Wives of the Armed forces co-founders and content creators, Jen Ferrell and Kirst Navaroli, talk about their unique corner of the internet where thousands of military spouses share experiences as they live the chaotic military lifestyle, support their spouses, one another, and the mission. Jen and Kirst share how they became military spouses, how t…

Department of Veterans Affairs Chief of Innovation, Dr. Indra Sandal, tells the story of how she became a U.S. citizen, why she was drawn to work with veterans and what led to her work to bring new innovations to VA health care. Dr. Sandal talks about how her work led to VA rideshare programs with Uber and Lyft. She also talks about VA's collaborat…

Abraham Lincoln and the first Thanksgiving THE INTERVIEW Dr. Uma Naidoo, nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutritional biologist and author, shares her knowledge of how our diets affect our brains and mental wellness. Dr. Naidoo also talks about the connection between food, culture and community, how to make small modifications that make…

Happy Birthday to the Kindle. THE INTERVIEW Air Force veteran and author Ethan Brown is a Senior Fellow for Defense Studies at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress (CSPS), a bipartisan think-tank in Washington D.C. He is also the author of the “Visual Friendlies, Tally Target” trilogy (Casemate Publishers), chronicling the role of …

Retired Air Force physician, Dr. Mary Anne Kiel, is a Pediatrician and a Food for Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Her work with Lifestyle and Performance medicine has helped servicemembers and their families learn how to make sustainable behavioral changes that improve health and wellness over the course of t…

We're dropping this episode a few days early in honor of election day. While The American Legion is a non-partisan organization, we have, since our earliest days, believed in the right to vote. Our "Get Out the Vote" program encourages all Americans to register and vote in all elections. In addition, Legionnaires, posts, districts and departments a…

Filmmaker Jake Rademacher honors his brothers’ service by creating award-winning movies about their deployments and life after the war. Between 2005-2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving in Iraq in the award-winning feature film, Brothers at War – which has led to resiliency workshops and much m…

Scary Bad Halloween Dad Jokes THE INTERVIEW Former Navy SEAL Alden Mills finds joy in helping people do more than they originally thought possible. So he’s on a mission to help 100 million people be unstoppable and go after their goals. He talks about staying connected to your military identity, embracing discomfort as a stepping stone toward growt…

Duct Tape debuts at Paris Fashion Week THE INTERVIEW Danielle Robinson — the surviving spouse of the late Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, namesake of the PACT Act – joins the podcast to share her family's story and how she and her husband became champions for passage of this historic legislation. Danielle also shares how she honors Heath's legacy …

Blue Star Families founder and CEO, Kathy Roth-Douquet, is dedicated to her organization's mission to reshape the way America supports its military. Kathy shares how her own family's military journey led her to help military families by connecting them with their neighbors to create communities of mutual support. She discusses how Blue Star Familie…

Monica Bassett, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry, is a Military Food Insecurity Expert and a dedicated advocate for military families facing this issue. A military spouse and the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, Monica knows first-hand the struggle some families face when it comes to food insecurity. She shares how her own experiences in…

THE INTERVIEW Román Baca, Artistic Director of Exit12 Dance Company is a classically trained ballet dancer and choreographer who, in 2001, took a hiatus from dance and enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he served as a machine-gunner and fire-team leader in Fallujah, Iraq. Baca shares how he founded Exit 12 Dance Company to give veterans a storytel…

Suicide awareness advocate Jerri Reed shares the story of losing her son, Iraq War veteran Cody Comacho, who took his own life after a 20-year battle with PTSD. Reed is striving to educate others about the dangers of using psychiatric drugs as PTSD treatment. Special Guest: Jerri Reed. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube Veterans Crisis L…

The gang is back together - and things get a little hairy before our guest arrives. THE INTERVIEW In his role as PACT Act Transitional Executive Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Army veteran Steven Miska serves as the senior advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs – providing oversight on the development, adoption and implement…

Joe marks his “hurt-a-versary” by looking back to the day 20 years ago when he was injured while running to assist a vehicle that had been hit by an IED. THE INTERVIEW Standing at 5'3" and weighing 110 pounds, young Navy recruit David Brown was laughed at and told he'd never make it through BUDS and become a SEAL. But Brown was determined. "If ther…

How we continue to remember September 11 THE INTERVIEW Marine Corps veteran, endurance athlete, adventurer and author Akshay Nanavati has a picture of a friend he lost in war on his wall and under it he wrote, “This should have been you. Earn this life." This was the fuel to write his book, "Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear i…

Grab your cowboy hats - Stacy briefly steps out of the recording studio and Adam and Joe launch a three-week "Bro-down" of episodes. IN THIS EPISODE September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a perfect time to be part of The American Legion Be the One mission by taking part in the online Columbia Training Protocol. THE INTERVIEW Our guest…

Kevin Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000 and lived to tell about it. While the suicide attempt broke his body, it did not break his spirit, and he has since dedicated his life to helping others overcome mental health challenges and teach them how to love the life they have. Kevin joins host Amy Forsythe to talk about his own mental-hea…

In a special episode recorded live at the Tango Alpha Lima Podcast Outpost at The American Legion National Convention in New Orleans, hosts Stacy Pearsall and Adam Marr catch up with former guests and meet new friends who discuss the exciting things they are sharing with convention attendees. Steve Burke, an Army veteran, West Point grad and Busine…

NAVSEA enters "Survey Era" - director urges employees to participate in annual survey in e-mail laced with Taylor Swift lyrics. THE INTERVIEW Our guest is Chase Sterling, founder of Wellbeing ThinkTank. She’s an Army veteran who has built a career working with organizations and individuals to create a culture of health and wellbeing in the workplac…

CELEBRITY VETERAN: A salute to George Carlin THE INTERVIEW LA Stand-up comedian and Marine Corps veteran Bryson Banks talks about his comedy show, Semper Funny, and his journey from his military service to successful entertainer. SCUTTLEBUTT Coffee & Chat at American Legion Post 243 in Oviedo, Fla. "A Soldier’s Journey" - WWI monument set to be unv…

Remembering the sacrifices of servicemembers on Purple Heart Day THE INTERVIEW Jay Glazer, Fox Sports NFL Insider, talks about his advocacy for military veterans. As a co-founder of Merging Vets & Players, Glazer helps match former combat veterans and former professional athletes to help each other through the transition into their new lives away f…

TROLL PATROL 0 CHAT THIRTY SCUTTLEBUTT Special Guest: Dr. Craig Bryan. Links: Watch video of this episode on YouTube STRIVE-Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans | Ohio State College of Medicine Veterans Crisis Line Be the One | The American LegionBy The American Legion

Celebrating the rise of the WAVES THE INTERVIEW Author and internationally recognized keynote speaker, retired Army Lt. Col. Oakland McCulloch uses his 23 years of experience as a combat arms officer to inspire servant leadership. SCUTTLEBUTT China fines comedy troupe $2m for joke about the military VA problems lead veterans who die alone to go unc…

‘A monumental step’ for LGBTQ+ rights THE INTERVIEW Author D. Paul Fleming shares his book “A Date With Suicide,” and discusses how to help veterans struggling with PTSD and mental health. THE SCUTTLEBUTT VA announces $10M in new funding opportunities for state, territory and Tribal governments to help understand, prevent veteran suicide A dental d…

Celebrating National Ice Cream Day with U.S. Navy Ice Cream Barge Bravo Zulu: Post 914 in Louisville, Ill. THE INTERVIEW Eric Stoffers, founder of BioXcellerator joins us to talk more about the stem cell therapy we talked about in Episode 216 with Crispy Avila. Eric takes us on a deeper dive into what this innovation can mean for the treatment of a…