American Valor Podcast

We have yet another great episode of the American Valor Podcast featuring retired Rear Admiral and Commanding Officer of the USS Louisville Michael Jabaley. During a 34-year career in the Navy aboard submarines, he learned what it meant to make uncommon valor a common virtue. Admiral Jabaley shares a lot of great stories about his relationships with Louisville Slugger, Tommy Lasorda, Yogi Berra, a...

On this episode of the American Valor Podcast, we were joined by Luke Epplin, the author of Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball. Born and raised in rural Illinois, Luke took a liking to writing in high school. Upon graduation from Washington University in St. Louis, Luke moved to New York City to work in book publishing. On the side, Luke has written art...

On this episode of the American Valor podcast, we were joined by Jon Hancock, a Marine veteran and documentary filmmaker as well as the co-founder and president of the Bastards’ Road Project. Jon Hancock was born in Honolulu but moved all over the world until he ended up moving to Maryland for good. Early on in his life, Jon Hancock realized that he wanted to be a Marine. He worked with a team cal...

On this episode of the American Valor Podcast, we were joined by Mr. Grant McCracken, an award-winning cultural anthropologist and author of his new book, The New Honor Code: A Simple Plan For Raising Our Standards and Restoring Our Good Names. Mr. McCracken has been studying American Culture for the last 25 years. In this interview, we talk about why the military is one of the few remaining best...

Jim Leeke was born and grew up in the Midwest. He studied journalism at Ohio State University after serving in the U.S. Navy. Jim then began his writing career in daily newspapers as a reporter, columnist and sportswriter. He later worked in communications with technology clients across North America and worldwide. An award-winning author of numerous books, Jim lives in Columbus, Ohio A former jou...

Stammen grew up and still resides in North Star, Ohio a village about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Versailles. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 12th Round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Dayton. In 2012, Stammen took his first trip to Afghanistan to visit military personnel. Stammen's work with the United States Military is partially due to some of his college...

Ms. Justine Siegal, the founder of Baseball for all, speaks about creating a role for women and girls in baseball. She shares her experiences with individuals such as Mike Veeck, Joe Maddon, and Billy Beane. “When she was 13, Justine’s coach told her that girls were only supposed to play softball—not baseball. At that moment, she vowed she’d never quit. At 16, despite being ridiculed, laughed at,...

Mr. Eric Kettani served in the Navy for two years after graduating from the US Naval Academy before embarking on a career as a football player in the NFL and fulfilling his service commitment in the Navy Reserves. Kettani shares stories of serving in the Navy and playing football at the professional level for coaches such as Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots.  “Lieutenant Eric Kettani (bo...

“Jim Morris is no stranger to big dreams. Since he was five years old, he passionately yearned to play baseball in the major leagues. However, despite all his hard work and determination, a series of unfortunate events and injuries scuttled his career before he was twenty-five. Doctors told him he would never play again. Then at age thirty-five—after a string of highly implausible events and at an...

Ed Dooling shares stories of the USS Iowa turret explosion tragedy and his thoughts on service within the military and business communities. Hosts: Peter Fertig and Galen Odell Vanguard Healthcare Staffing Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation Support the show

Thoughts on writing, philosophy, leadership, heroism, and valor. “LTC (Ret) JC Glick is a leadership consultant who advises at the strategic, operational, team and individual levels. He has a strong background in leadership development, executive personnel assessment and selection, strategy, coaching, counseling, and developing innovative solutions to complex problems. JC served in the U.S. Army a...

Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Mr. Kenny Lofton shares stories from his seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball, including stealing bases, Omar Visquel, Frank Thomas, Albert Belle, and Bob Feller. Also hear about Mr. Lofton’s endeavors since retiring from baseball in 2007, including producing movies through FilmPool Inc. and starting and supporting the Still Got Game Foundation. Lofton attende...

“While serving as an Army platoon leader, [the Life Skills for Soldiers] Founder realized there are far too many soldiers who lack basic life skills causing additional stress and burden on themselves and their families. He began teaching a diverse set of everyday life topics including how to make a budget, how to start investing, and how to meal plan in the belief that doing so would help the indi...

Billy Hurley III graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he played golf before becoming a Surface Warfare Officer and professional golfer on the PGA Tour. Hurley speaks of the subtle differences between his good and bad times on the golf course and his lessons learned in his time in the Navy that transitioned to other areas of his life, his advice for a young person at the Naval Acad...

Retired Rear Admiral Tom Kearney speaks about his career path from Seaman Recruit to Vice Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the role of submarines in the Navy, his experience setting a submarine record, handling an emergency at sea, and leadership – both externally and internally of a group. “Rear Adm. Thomas Kearney grew up in Dover, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Navy in 1978. He...

The great American and ambassador of baseball Mr. Tommy Lasorda shares insights from his established career with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the American Valor Podcast. Tommy preaches his passion for Dodgers baseball, the military and the United States of America. Mr. Lasorda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 following his 20 years leading the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, i...

“At Project9line, our focus is to bridge the communication gap between Veterans and civilians. Through Outreach, Communication, and Purpose we enable veterans to express themselves uniquely through forms of art.  There is not enough done to help our Veterans. Statistics show that twenty-two Veterans decide to take their own life every day. At Project9line, our goal is to make an impact on this ala...

Ms. Katina Shaw serves as the Vice President of Community Relations for the Milwaukee Brewers. Shaw shares stories of the community engagement activities she leads on behalf of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball organization. She encourages students to seek out internships and mentors to help them to develop in their life and career. Ms. Shaw finds that living as an authentic leader is an important co...

Mr. Jon Shestakofsky serves as the Vice President of Communications and Education at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Shestakofsky shares his background and pleasure in traveling from Minor League Baseball to World Series Championships in Major League Baseball to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. For Shestakofsky, it is all about the people and their stories.  “A 2005 gr...

Retired Navy Chief Bryan Exum shares the story of marrying during his Navy retirement ceremony and the challenges and rewards of representing over 70,000 sailors, Marines, Department of Navy personnel and family assigned to his global organization. Exum associates valor with courage and values: doing the right thing at all times and following the Navy’s core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment. “Br...

Mr. Jim Folk is the Vice President (VP) of Ballpark Operations for the Cleveland Indians and Chairman of the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation, with a vision of supporting positive civil-military relations by creating and maintaining a strong, meaningful, and direct bond between citizens of northeast Ohio and the crew of USS Cleveland (LCS 31) and a mission of sending USS Cleveland to the Fleet with...

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez speaks about his background as a meteorologist and enlisted leader in the United States Navy. Mr. Gonzalez refers to selfless leadership with the mindset of helping making people’s lives better and incorporating the personal component of leading others. “Enrique has served as an Executive, Businessman, Veteran & Advocate, Board Member, Non-Profit Administrator, Speaker,...

Recently retired Navy Commanding Officer John Laney shares the story of his learning the importance of reading when he was surprised to be asked what he was reading during his command board, finding he did not have a superb answer to the simple question. Laney also speaks to the importance of recognizing how complex systems are in the world. For Laney, valor is tied to meaning and he defines leade...

Matt Eisner became the youngest professional blogger on mlb.com at the age of nine years. Mr. Eisner shares his memorable stories of covering baseball at a young age and attending Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation ceremonies honoring those who support our service men and women each November. Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk Matt’s Bats Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation Support th...

Mr. Brian Clark shares his recollection of working in the World Trade Center for Euro Brokers and his story from above the impact zone of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Clark shares the lessons he has taken towards his own life: living in the present, not dwelling on unanswerable questions, enjoying life to the fullest, making every day count, and using one’s gifts in service to o...