Living History with Alex

In this episode of Living History with Alex , Alex sits down with Aster Bato Mohamed, author of The Joy of Walking By Faith , to explore an extraordinary life shaped by faith, education, culture, perseverance, and service—from her childhood in Ethiopia to becoming an educator in Miami-Dade. Aster shares memories of growing up in a traditional Ethiopian village, beginning school at age nine, studyi...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , Alex sits down with three U.S. Navy Chief Selectees — MMC LaToya Thompson, HMC Eric Negron, and AZC Justin Sandobal — to talk about their journeys through military service, leadership, deployments, and what it means to become a Chief Petty Officer . Together, they share experiences from aircraft carriers, aviation maintenance, Navy medicine, Kuwait, co...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Dr. Bryan Stewart, Campus President of Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus , to explore a journey shaped by athletics, mathematics, education, leadership, and community service. From playing college basketball in Texas to earning a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph. D. in mathematics , Dr. Stewart shares how teamwork, great teachers, mentor...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Corporal Daniel Martinez , a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Desert Storm combat veteran who served from 1988 to 1994 as an automotive maintenance technician. Daniel shares how his family’s military legacy inspired him to join the Marines, his memories of boot camp at Parris Island, and the pride of earning the title of Marine. He also t...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , Alex sits down with Barbara, Linda, and Joyce , members of the Ocean Waves Quilters Guild who help create Quilts of Valor to recognize and honor veterans who served in combat zones. Through every quilt, they offer something deeply personal: appreciation, comfort, and a reminder that a veteran’s service has not been forgotten. The three quilters share h...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Technical Sgt. Virgil Campaneria , a U.S. Air Force veteran and Pararescueman (PJ) who served for more than 12 years in one of the military’s most demanding rescue career fields. His story combines elite training, airborne operations, medical rescue, disaster response, and a lifelong commitment to the Pararescue motto: “That Others May...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , a retired U.S. Army officer and Purple Heart recipient who served for 21 years, from 1999 to 2020. His remarkable journey took him from arriving in the United States as a refugee from the Soviet Union to serving as an infantry officer, Army Ranger, diplomat, strategist, and eventually a member of the White...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Ely Hernandez , a United States Air Force veteran and former Senior Airman who served from 1982 to 1986 as a turboprop propulsion mechanic before dedicating more than three decades of his life to teaching the next generation of aviation professionals. Ely shares how his fascination with airplanes began while growing up in Miami, watchi...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Staff Sgt. Frank Cabadiana , a U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient whose military journey spanned more than 25 years across active duty and National Guard service. Frank shares how seeing service members in uniform inspired him to join the Army as a teenager and pursue a life built around discipline, responsibility, leadership...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Dariel Fernandez , the elected Miami-Dade County Tax Collector , entrepreneur, technology advocate, and public servant whose journey began in Cuba before he immigrated to the United States in 2002. Dariel shares what it was like growing up under Cuba’s communist regime and why arriving in the United States represented more than financi...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Mr. John Cooper , a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1958 to 1960 before building a remarkable career in international banking and business. Mr. Cooper shares how the patriotism he experienced growing up during World War II inspired him to continue through ROTC, earn his commission, and serve as an infantry officer. Although he was of...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Dr. Harold "Hal" Silberman , a World War II veteran, physician, and clinical researcher whose remarkable life spans nearly a century of American history. Dr. Silberman reflects on growing up during the Great Depression, serving as a young U.S. Navy officer aboard the USS Arkansas , and taking part in some of World War II'...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Corporal Oswaldo “Ozzie” Perez , a United States Marine Corps veteran and Iraq War veteran who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002 , just one day after the September 11 attacks. He shares how his family's history—particularly his father’s escape from Cuba and first encounter with a U.S. Marine at Guantanamo Bay—inspired his decisi...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Corporal Frank Sosa , a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 1988 to 1994 and fought during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm as an 0352 Anti-Tank Assault Guided Missileman (TOW Gunner) . Corporal Sosa shares his incredible journey from growing up watching World War II movies with his father to earning th...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Mr. Terry Thompson , Assistant Principal at Royal Palm Elementary School, educator, mentor, and a lifelong advocate for helping young people reach their potential. Mr. Thompson shares his remarkable journey from studying criminal justice and political science with dreams of becoming an attorney to discovering that education and mentori...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Ramon Torralba, a retired Fire Lieutenant who dedicated more than 26 years of service to his community as a firefighter, paramedic, rescue and suppression officer, fire inspector, fire investigator, aviation fuel safety inspector, and much more. Ramon shares the incredible story of what first inspired him to become a firefighter after w...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Carlos Lopez , a United States Marine Corps veteran who served from 1992 to 1996 in the elite Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST Company) as both an infantry rifleman and anti-tank guided missileman. Carlos shares what inspired him to join the Marine Corps at just 17 years old, his intense journey through Marine Corps training, a...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Abraham Arellano , a U.S. Air Force veteran from the Vietnam era. Abraham shares why he joined the Air Force during the draft, hoping to serve while avoiding being sent directly to Vietnam. He talks about basic training in San Antonio, learning to shoot the M16, and how a series of unexpected moments led him to serve stateside instead...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Retired Sgt. Rudy Espinosa , who served nearly three decades (1984–2013) in the Miami-Dade County Police Department . Rudy shares what inspired him to pursue a career in law enforcement from a young age and what it was like going through the police academy in the 1980s — from intense training under the Florida heat to the discipline an...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights — the elite parachute team of the United States Army — including Sgt. Nelson Velez, Sgt. Katie Leadbetter, and Sgt. 1st Class Dusty Gebhardt . They share what inspired them to join the Army, how they found their way to the Golden Knights, and what it means to serve on one of the most respected ai...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with SFC Cheri Hooker , a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran who began her military journey at just 17 years old and went on to serve over 20 years in the armed forces. SFC Hooker shares her inspiring story of how she followed in her father’s footsteps, joining the National Guard as a teenager and later transitioning into active duty Army...

In this episode of Living History with Alex, we sit down with Dr. Vern, a retired U.S. Coast Guard veteran and author of The Power of Transformation: My Journey from High School Dropout to PhD. Dr. Vern shares an incredible story of perseverance, faith, and personal growth. He talks about joining the Coast Guard in the mid-1970s as a high school dropout, struggling with tests in boot camp, and eve...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Michael O’Connor , a community leader dedicated to giving back through initiatives that support organizations like the Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society , and more. Michael shares the story behind the St. John Neumann Men’s Club Golf Tournament , now in its 34th year , and how it has raised thousands of d...

In this special six-month anniversary episode of Living History with Alex , we bring back several past guests to reflect on the podcast journey, why they said yes to being interviewed, and why preserving veterans’ stories matters so much. Featured voices include Elio Dominguez, Lupe Casanova, Michael Becerra, Chase Provencher "Dad", Don Jackson, and Thomas Gammon , each sharing what the...

In this episode of Living History with Alex , we sit down with Col. George Cadman III, USMC (Retired) , a United States Marine who served from 1964 to 1995 and experienced some of the defining moments of the Vietnam War era, including the Tet Offensive . Col. Cadman shares what inspired him to join the Marine Corps, how he transitioned from an enlisted Marine to an officer, and what it was like tr...