American Valor Podcast

Minor League Baseball player and retired Surface Warfare Officer Luke Gillingham shares his memories of playing baseball at the United States Naval Academy for Coach Paul Kostacopoulos, his recollection of being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, and the options the Navy presented to him as he fulfilled his commitment to serving his country through the Navy Reserve while having the opportunity to p...

Judge Michael Allen speaks about his path to serving as one of nine judges on the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the youngest federal court, created in 1988. Appeals of all benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs are heard by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Judge Allen speaks about the family members and teachers who mentored him and made a differ...

Retired Fleet Master Chief Scott Benning speaks about the opportunities presented by the military for individuals to improve themselves while serving one’s country and receiving an education. It is vital to our country that the military is on the leading edge of technology and human capital development. Chief Benning speaks about the sacrifices people make in life and the meaning of a purpose driv...

Ms. Charlynda Scales speaks of her time as an acquisitions officer in the United States Air Force, the bond she shared with her grandfather Charlie “Mutt” Ferrell, Jr., who encouraged Charlynda to pursue a career in the military and left her with his recipe. Today, Charlynda leads Mutt’s Sauce, with “every bottle of Mutt’s Sauce made with love and determination to continue his legacy.” Hear about...

Leo Menchetti and Colin Kirk discuss current events and details surrounding the start of the 2020 MLB season. Walk4Valor Challenge Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation Hosts: Michael Blankers and Galen Odell Editor: Galen Odell Support the show

“Retiring after 21 years of active service in the United States Navy, Alan Bottorff earned his Bachelor of Business Administration – Healthcare Management from Strayer University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He completed his MBA at Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business in December 2018. Mr. Bottorff has acquired 27 years of professional leadership, entrepreneurship, business, and team deve...

Over 20 veterans take their lives each day, evidence of a suicide epidemic within our country, a problem specifically prevalent within the veteran community. The Suicide Awareness and Prevention flag is a symbolic combination of the Prisoner of War (POW) and Gold Star flags. The Gold Star is displayed on a service flag to indicate that a relative of the family was killed while serving in the armed...

Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Terry Spain speaks about his leadership philosophy, lessons learned in his life from family and military service, what it means to be a Chief Petty Officer in the world’s finest Navy, and writing his new book, Just Lead! “Terry Spain is an author and CEO of Terry Spain Consulting LLC, which specializes in diversity and leadership training along with motivational sp...

Rear Admiral Frank Thorp speaks about his family’s longstanding service, within and outside of the military. He speaks about the principle of America’s service men and women serving and defending our Constitution, representing freedom and people’s desire to fight for it and give up what they have, as embodied by Bob Feller. Rear Admiral Thorp speaks about being in the Pentagon on 9/11 and reminds...

Captain Greg Zettler speaks about lessons of integrity as a priority of his education at the United States Naval Academy. Captain Zettler speaks about the significance of service and recommends one assumes that everyone on their team has noble intent. Captain Zettler stresses the importance of creating individual ownership of the collective mission. The best advice Captain Zettler has received was...

Mr. Buster Olney shares his upbringing around the game of baseball, his career as a sports columnist covering the game, Hall of Fame voting and personal memories and stories from baseball legends Tony Gwynn and Jerry Coleman, including Gwynn’s gregarious personality and Coleman’s humility towards his service and respect for his comrades who did not return home from war. Jerry Coleman: Marine Corps...

Dr. Himesh Lakhlani speaks about lessons learned from the difficult situations his parents lived through. His parents taught him hard work, commitment, humility, and the value of family. Himesh is passionate about providing awareness to individuals who do not have a family history of pursuing higher education. Himesh defines valor as standing up for others who don’t have the ability to stand up on...

Mr. Ed Randall speaks about his love of baseball while growing up, leading him to broadcast, report, and anchor professionally. He speaks about the challenges of reaching Major League Baseball, being grateful for his experiences and respecting the past. Mr. Randall shares his memory of making it to the Major Leagues when he filled in for Bob Shepherd, the legendary public address announcer at Yank...

"Baseball saw some of its biggest transformations in the 1940s and 50s. The introduction of night games, television, racial desegregation, and prevalence of jet travel all had a profound impact on how the game was forever played, observed, and experienced. Through these unprecedented times stood Carl Erskine, famed pitcher of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and a witness to history. Upo...

We are very fortunate to feature Mrs. Anne Feller, the widow of Mr. Bob Feller. Mrs. Feller shares incredible stories of Mr. Feller's recollection of his experiences in World War II and pride in his country, sharing insight into what made individuals like Mr. Feller and World War II and Korean War veteran Mr. Ted Williams so special. Afterwards, hear about the upcoming baseball season. Bob Fe...

On the American Valor Podcast, Sports Journalist Lindsay Berra speaks about her career decision and experience covering sports at the highest levels. She talks about lessons learned from her grandfather Yogi, one of the greatest baseball catchers of all time: humility, integrity, citizenship, treating all people equally, and many more. One special story includes Yogi’s reflection on his military s...

Author Anne Keene began her career as a writer after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a journalism degree. Anne’s father was a batboy for the Cloudbuster Nine, a World War II team of fighter-pilot cadets at an elite Navy training school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After her father’s passing, Anne began researching the Major League Basebal...

On the twentieth episode of the American Valor Podcast, we are honored to be joined by the 75th Secretary of the Navy: the Honorable Ray Mabus. "Mr. Mabus served as the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy, the longest to serve as leader of the Navy and Marine Corps since World War I. Throughout his tenure, Secretary Mabus has focused on four key priorities - People, Platforms, Power and...

Mr. Bill Tunnell served as the Executive Director of USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park until 2015, a total of 19 years. Bill oversaw the maintenance and expansion of one of the last remaining Battleship museums left in the world. Over the course of his career, Bill met and spoke personally with National Baseball Hall of Famer and proud veteran of the United States Navy, Chief Petty Officer Bob...

On the American Valor Podcast, Mr. Steve Gonzalez preaches the importance of being better each day. Steve joined the Marine Corps because he realized that doing so aligned with what he wanted to achieve in life: service to country as a means of believing in something bigger than himself. Steve speaks to the difficulty of transitioning out of military service.  The gap between society and former me...

Doug Flynn grew up playing several sports in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky and Somerset Community College before playing 11 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. Mr. Flynn was a member of the 1975 Big Red Machine team that won the World Series. He is currently a broadcaster for the Ci...

Major Lennon speaks about his decision to join the Marine Corps and his service in both the active and reserve components of the Marine Corps, as well as his decision to attend law school. In 2010, Major Lennon deployed to Afghanistan, receiving the Purple Heart and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his service to our country. Major Lennon then went on earn his Doctor of Law degree from the...

Vice Admiral John “Jay” Donnelly (United States Navy, Retired) is Vice President of Advanced Technologies for Huntington Ingalls Industries. Jay serves as an active Board Member of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. Donnelly graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 and served 35 years in the Navy. A submarine officer by training, his commanding officer assignments included...

The Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation is proud to present a promotional speaker event between our podcast team of Nathaniel Cameron, Tyler Buchholz, and Colin Kirk and Foundation Board Members Peter Fertig, Steve Curtis and Johnathan Rose. The awards honor the legacy of National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who made the selfless decision to put his career in the major leagues o...

In our twelfth installment, Dr. CJ Mitchell, the 15th Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve, chats with the podcast team of Nathaniel Cameron, Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk. Dr Mitchell discusses his career in the Navy, transition to civilian life and CJ's concept of leadership, including his rule of three. CJ has held several leadership positions in the Navy at every level and frequently sp...