Darius Holland won a Super Bowl championship playing for the Green Bay Packers during his 10-year NFL career. Afterward, he found his calling as a chaplain in the Army National Guard and as a pastor of 20 years.
He currently specializes in religious practices and coaching that bridges cultural gaps and fosters spiritual readiness, especially within the military community.
A member of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Design Advisory Council, Holland is the special guest in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou.
He talks about his NFL career, service as a chaplain, moral injury, and how he helps veterans and servicemembers heal.
This is the fifth episode in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.
Retired Air Force veteran Brandon Fertig has transformed from a conservative, mild mannered civilian to a passionate outdoor adventurer.
An employee of Philips, he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, skydived and whitewater rafted in Colorado, and gone scuba diving, rode horses, skied, fished, snorkled, kayaked, biked, and hiked all over the world.
Fertig’s eight-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro was in support of MedTechVets, a nonprofit that helps veterans transition to rewarding careers.
Other topics in Episode 290 include the return of a Medal of Honor recipient’s remains, an update on Gulf War Illness treatment and a rare Stars Wars trading card.
CDC recognizes Gulf War Illness
Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi have been identified
One-of-a-kind Star Wars collector’s card surfaces at US Army post exchange
All Americans have been affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Global War on Terrorism as a whole. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial is being designed to share the stories, voices and experiences of GWOTveterans, their military families and all Americans. Retired Army Col. Kirsten Brunson and Gen. Xavier Brunson are the special guests in this episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou. It is the fourth in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.
Army veteran Dan Kunze, who joined the National Guard after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, talks about his new role as co-host of the Warrior Money podcast on Yahoo Finance, mental health, time management and other topics.
Kunze, who appeared in an earlier episode about his role as vice chairman of Task Force Movement, also discussed impostor syndrome for military veterans, national security, technology, and civic leadership.
Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include Halloween tricks and treats, the VA's new MOS (Military Skills) Translator tool and National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day.
Links
Council of College and Military Educators
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial will reflect the voices, unique experiences and war stories of those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Marine Corps combat veteran Elliot Ackerman, the co-chairman of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation’s Design Advisory Council, is helping to collect the voices that will be used to represent all those who served, sacrificed and contributed to the GWOT.
He is the author of a half-dozen books, including “The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan.” This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the third in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance.
Traditional prosthetic care can be labor and time-intensive, difficult to scale to all VA facilities, and challenging for some veterans to access. However, the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning is making progress in digital prosthetics.
Digital innovation, AI and other technologies are allowing VA to deliver prosthetic devices to disabled veterans sooner so they can play video games, feed themselves, play sports like golf and pickleball, and more. Learn more in this week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Other topics in this episode include changes the Pentagon is making to MREs, Chuck Yeager’s historic supersonic flight and a Vietnam veteran’s journey back to school.
The American Legion is proud to be an Associate Sponsor of Army-Navy Game presented by USAA
Dr. Ripley discusses development of 3D-printed medical devices
81-year old Vietnam War veteran graduations from Bristol College
The design for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial will incorporate the stories of those most closely affected including veterans, their families, Gold Star Families and other military members. Kengo Kuma, who was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, and Balázs Bognár from Kengo Kuma and Associates are the lead designers in the memorial to honor and memorialize GWOT veterans. They explain the design process, their vision and more for the project that will result in the memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the second in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion.
Former Army 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper Doug Evans has landed on a niche for affordable health and wellness.
After losing both parents and witnessing his aunt's double amputation due to preventable disease, Evans had his "come to cucumber moment" and transformed his life through nutrition.
Now the founder and CEO of The Sprouting Company and bestselling author of The Sprout Book, Evans reveals how anyone can grow the most nutrient-dense food on the planet right in their kitchen — for under a dollar per serving.
Learn how sprouting works, why sprouts are up to 100 times more nutrient-dense than regular vegetables, and how this ancient practice is helping modern families eat fresh, healthy food without soil, sunshine, or fertilizer.
Other topics in this episode include the Army-Navy Game, PBS “After Action,” the Department of Defense or Department of War, and more.
The American Legion and the Army Navy Game
History of the Department of War
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation is on a journey to dedicate a place of honor and remembrance for all service members and military families who served and sacrificed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Former Army Green Beret and foundation CEO Michael Rodriguez shares his vision for the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C.; how it is a “sacred duty” and more. This episode, hosted by Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, is the first in the initial six-part special series produced by The American Legion.
Alicia Freeman talks about how equine therapy helps veterans with mental health issues, her Stay in the Fight Veterans Foundation philanthropy organization and more as the special guest on this week’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Other topics in this episode include International Podcast Day, Wiley X’s protective eyewear for military members, the decline of civic engagement, music as a lifeline for deployed troops and more.
Episode links
Number One New York Times bestselling author Robert Edsel is the author of “The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: The Story of the Monuments Men.” The book served as the basis for Academy Award winner George Clooney’s 2014 film, which stars an ensemble cast including himself, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray.
Edsel, whose father served as a Marine during World War II, is one of the world’s foremost advocates for art preservation and the recovery of cultural treasures missing since World War II.
The Monuments Men and Women were the soldier-scholars who helped save many of the world’s great art and cultural treasures from the destruction of war and theft by the Nazis.
Other topics in this episode include a wounded Navy veteran’s “Alive Day,” how Sesame Street characters are giving back to the military community and more.
Finding your Revolutionary War Roots
THE INTERVIEW
Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns talks about his new documentary film on the American Revolution, his Vietnam War documentary series, his path to a career in movies and more. He has created a legendary catalog of documentary movies including “The Vietnam War,” “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The War,” “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea;” and more. His films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 17 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. Other topics include the impact of funding cuts on PBS and NPR, what Reddit is saying about watching documentaries by Burns and more.
SCUTTLEBUTT
Ken Burns support for PBS, CPB and the National Endowment for the Humanities
Reddit Rabbit Hole: Bingeing Burns documentaries
Special Guest: Ken Burns.
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The American Legion is proud to introduce “Welcome Home,” a new podcast series from the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.
GWOT Memorial Foundation CEO and former Army Green Beret Michael “Rod” Rodriguez chats with Chief of Staff and Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, who will host the upcoming series. The memorial will honor and remember military members who served since 9/11.
Rodriguez and Ballou talk about their personal connections to the Global War on Terrorism, the memorial foundation and more in advance of the first episode of Season 1 of "Welcome Home," which will be released on Oct. 2.
Special Guest: Michael "Rod" Rodriguez.
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Military spouses often face challenges when seeking jobs. They raise their military families while one parent is frequently deployed for months or years at a time. Military members regularly PCS to a different duty station, making it difficult for a spouse to remain employed. Entrepreneurship is a good way for a military spouse to earn some extra money.
Monica Fullerton created Spouse-ly, an online business that spotlights and supports businesses owned by military spouses, transitioning service members and veterans.
Meet this successful entrepreneur and learn more about her business, path to a rewarding career and more in the fourth and final episode of Veteran Entrepreneurs, a special four-part podcast series from The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Special Guest: Monica Bassett.
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Veterans and transitioning servicemembers often face challenges when seeking civilian careers.
Brian Marchegiani, co-founder of Mack Brothers Elevator, found his calling in the skilled labor field. But he does more than elevator repair. He gives back to the veteran community, providing jobs for former military members and military families. In fact, for this business owner, mentorship isn’t optional, it’s a force multiplier.
Learn more about this entrepreneur success story, how to apply his expertise to landing a job in the skilled trades and more in the third episode of Veteran Entrepreneurs, a special four-part series from The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Special Guest: Brian Marchegiani.
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Veterans and transitioning servicemembers often face challenges when seeking civilian careers.
Former Army officer Kirby Atwell faced burnout in his first attempt at entrepreneurship post service. He stayed true to his calling, seeking a mission that would bring him freedom after his military service.
Learn how he knew when to move on and how to make a pivot to unlock a more rewarding business that supports veterans in need in the real estate field. Tune in to the second episode of Veteran Entrepreneurs, a special four-part podcast series from The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Special Guest: Kirby Atwell.
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Veterans and transitioning servicemembers often face challenges when seeking civilian careers. Air Force veteran Charlynda Scales found her business niche while honoring the legacy of her grandfather, a Korean War veteran. With no formal training in the food industry, she relied on her military experience to adapt, execute, and lead, bringing her vision to life. Her business, Mutt’s Sauce, is rooted in service, resilience and a sense of purpose. Learn more about how she developed her mission, her path to success and more in the first episode of Veteran Entrepreneurs, a special four-part podcast series from The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Special Guest: Charlynda Scales.
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Austin von Letkemann, better known by his MandatoryFunDay Instagram handle, leads off this episode by talking about his new podcast, the Army-Navy Game and more.
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation CEO Rod Rodriguez shares an update on plans for the memorial and a new podcast that launches with a pilot episode September 11.
Representatives of The American Legion’s community service project, Heroes United to Heal and Protecting Vets Foundation also chatted with the hosts of Tango Alpha Lima about the role of service, overcoming PTSD and military sexual trauma. All this and more in Part 2 of our episode recorded during the Legion’s National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
Special Guests: Alyse Duffy, Austin Von Letkemann, Bridget Lake, Donna A. Michaels, Jennifer Ballou, and Michael "Rod" Rodriguez.
Representatives of USAA, Mutual of Omaha, Sony and MilTrac share how they are supporting veterans through The American Legion. Veterans and servicemembers in transition can receive financial guidance, mental health support, hearing aids and more resources from these partners. They all stopped by the Tango Alpha Lima podcast booth during The American Legion National Convention in Tampa, Fla., for this special episode.
Special Guests: Kylie Reynolds, L.J. Pocsi, Matt Scherer, Melissa Bennett, and Thaddeus "Chris" Figueroa.
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With a rifle in one hand, and a sketch pad in the other, retired Marine veteran Joe Winslow’s combat service in the Battle of Fallujah inspired a return to his love of art. He drew sketches and collected artifacts before returning home to begin working on art reflecting the dedication of Marines, sailors, soldiers and others in action. Winslow discusses his time in the military, drawing inspiration from combat zones, transition issues for servicemembers and more. Other topics include alternative therapies for mental health, the origins of battle cries and the upcoming anniversary of Star Trek.
Special Guest: Joe Winslow.
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