Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

OTDIH: The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence THE INTERVIEW Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bart Womack discusses creating an equine therapy facility for veterans with PTSD; mentoring ROTC cadets; his book, “Embedded Enemy,” which is about an insider terrorist attack; and more SCUTTLEBUTT Mapping US troops and military bases in the Middle East Navy destroyer, air defense system...

National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day THE INTERVIEW Nutrition can be complicated. Army veteran and health and wellness expert Jennifer Campbell helps bring clarity and provides answers on how adults can fix the most disruptive things affecting their health. Among the topics she tackles are the best exercise for your health and longevity, lessons from the Blue Zones and understanding the role of...

Summer is in full swing and our hosts have big plans. THE INTERVIEW Navy veteran David Vardeman talks about guiding nonprofits to their goals, what’s led to his success, achieving financial literacy and more. A senior vice president for Capital Bank in Washington, D.C., Vardeman shares what led to his success, how he helps nonprofits and others meet their financial dreams and more. SCUTTLEBUTT An...

Navigating Visual Sequela Progression due to TBI THE INTERVIEW Mike Corrado discovered the power of music while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Music offers the power to heal, honor the fallen and inspire. He has seen firsthand how teaching songwriting to amputees helps them heal and move forward. Corrado talks about his lifelong love of music, its power to heal, his singer/songwriter retreats f...

Navy combat veteran, cancer survivor and mental wellness expert Aletha Williams shares how meditation and mind-body wellness has helped her learn how to let go of things that no longer serve her. As the founder of Inner Starr Compass Healing, she now helps individuals heal through inner wisdom, creativity and intuition. Learn more about how she helps others overcome PTSD and other mental health is...

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 health through its AI-powered Talk to Sam feature,...

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 at the U.S. Naval Academy Busch Gardens, Sea World...

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 culture, creation of a Native American women vetera...

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. SCUTTLEBUTT A salute Ronin – the hero rat who set a Guinn...

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 service. He believes strongly that patriotism is exhibit...

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 White’s 20-year military career in the U.S. Air Forc...

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 Awareness month: Neurodivergent Veterans Florida Americ...

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 Mines During World War II The worst military smells...

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-Stokes, who served as a paratrooper with the Army in...

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 Robert Irvine Foundation, he focuses on preventing...

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 Survey. SCUTTLEBUTT The first Americans to earn t...

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 Tango Alpha Lima. ALSO IN THIS EPISODE We Can Do It! R...

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 Healing Benefits of Humor and Laughter National Debunki...

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 discusses all this and more as the special guest on this w...

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 protect their hearts to live longer, healthier lives. S...

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. SCUTTLEBUTT New bill would make it easier for veter...

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 issues, to be posthumously delivered to desendants. VA...

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 documentary filmmaker of “Courage to Thrive.” SCUTTLEBUTT...

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 Coast Guard How Navy veteran Charles Sanna changed...

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 actually, which it often is.” SCUTTLEBUTT VA awards...