AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

"...If you live without passion, you can go through life without leaving any footprints." - Betty White. Hear how 3 Army spouses are leaving their footprints through their passion for music. Heidi Ackerman and Deidra Lee Stubbs, members of the American Military Spouses Choir share how music has connected military families and brought healing and happiness through their choral performances. Victoria McAdoo wraps up the episode sharing her experience writing Lima Oscar Victor Echo with Operation Song and her inspiration behind the song. To learn more please check out their websites linked in the resource section below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Host: Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
 
Guests: 
Maria McConville, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Army
Alexandra Grinston, Spouse of the Sergeant Major of the Army
Heidi Ackerman, American Military Spouses Choir Director
Deidra Lee Stubbs, American Military Spouses Choir Member
Victoria McAdoo, Lima Oscar Victor Echo Songwriter 
 
Resources: 
 
Center for American Military Music and Opportunities (CAMMO)
Website: https://www.cammomusic.org/
 
Operation Song
Website: https://www.operationsong.org/
 
 
Social Media Platforms:
 
Center for American Military Music and Opportunities (CAMMO)
Twitter: @cammo_music 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cammomusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cammomusic
 
American Military Spouse Choir (AMSC)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanmilitaryspouseschoir/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanMilitarySpousesChoir
 
Operation Song
Twitter: @operationsong
Instagram: @operationsong
Facebook: @OperationSong
 
 
Music Credits:
 
American Military Spouses Choir, “Fleet Week Follies: Digital Edition,” Bitta Mostofi, Anna Chlumsky, Waterwell Productions, Inc., 23 May 2020, New York City, video, 7:29, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkCGUKx0N8s.
 
Dell Ramsdell, vocalist, Victoria Vanderberg and Cindy Morgan, writers, “Lima Oscar Victor Echo (LOVE),” Operation Song, 2020, music video, 3:08, https://subsplash.com/operationsong/media/mi/+ssrhdz4.

“I landed and just heard my leg go pop.” – 1LT Maggie Gleason describing her painful landing after jumping from an airplane during Army Ranger training. She joins AUSA’s Scott Halstead to talk about her leadership journey, including her story of perseverance in earning her Ranger tab despite being injured.
Guest: 1LT Maggie Gleason, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, United States Army
Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center for Leadership
Resources:
2nd Cavalry Regiment, United States ArmyWeb: https://www.2cr.army.mil/
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

What’s new with the SMA? Today, SMA(R) Dailey interviews SMA Grinston about the things he is doing to implement our Army senior leaders’ vision, shape the culture of the Army and give us an overall update on how our Army is doing.
Guest: SMA Michael Grinston, 16th SMA
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
 
Resources:
Pentagon, HQDATwitter (Grinston): @16thSMASuicide Prevention Lifeline: https://t.co/limoaNq8HT
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Over one million African Americans served in World War II. Not one was awarded the Medal of Honor until the Army revisited the issue almost fifty years later. Robert Child, author of Immortal Valor, joins AUSA's Joe Craig to share stories of the seven men who were finally recognized with the nation’s highest military award.
Guest:  Robert Child, author of Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA Book Program Director
Resources:
Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II

What is the Piestewa Challenge? Lisa Hallett, executive director and co-founder of wear blue: run to remember, tells us how you can join this challenge and honor women in combat. Learn how wear blue: run to remember has evolved into a community that honors all service members and helps others heal from the challenges of war. For more information on the Piestewa Challenge check out the resource section below.
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Guest: 
Lisa Hallett, Executive Director and Co-Founder of wear blue: run to remember
 
Host: 
Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness 
    
Resource: 
 
wear blue: run to remember
Website: www.wearblueruntoremember.org/piestewa-challenge
 
Social Media Platforms
Instagram: @wearblue
Twitter: @wearblue
Facebook: @wearblue

Senior Non-commissioned officers build and lead disciplined, lethal, cohesive, and honorable teams. COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center of Leadership, speaks with CSM Eric Buonopane of the U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade about what has shaped him professionally and his philosophy on leader development. The Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade conducts transformational training to develop and deliver competent and capable Rangers, Parachutists, Jumpmasters, and Reconnaissance Leaders to enable the U.S. Army and the Joint Force to prevail in combat.
Guest: CSM Eric Buonopane, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade
Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center for Leadership
  
Resources:
Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade (ARTB)U.S. Army Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center of ExcellenceWeb: https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/ARTB/
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Why don’t we focus more on keeping our brains healthy? A lot of research has gone into answering that question. Today, SMA(R) Dailey interviews LTC (Ret) Dr. Daniel T. Johnston about the journey of becoming a doctor, understanding the brain, and mental fitness. Dr. Johnston is a leader in preventative healthcare, brain performance, and human resilience. He also co-founded BrainSpan. BrianSpan provides healthcare providers with a scientifically validated, objective brain wellness assessment that can help improve your brain’s function today as well as keep your brain sharp as you age.
 
Guest: LTC (Ret) Dr. Daniel T. Johnston, Co-Founder, BrainSpan
 
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
 
Resources:
 
BrainSpan
Web: https://www.brainspan.com/
 
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs
Web: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiers
Twitter (Dailey): @15thSMA
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

What does it take to develop trust with Company-level Commanders and First Sergeants?  COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center of Leadership, speaks with COL Michael Kloepper and CSM Christopher Clapin of the 173rd Airborne Brigade about what and who have shaped them as leaders. The command team then describes why their leader development program focuses on company-level Commanders and First Sergeants.  Ultimately, the 173rd Airborne Brigade leader development initiatives are designed to empower Squad Leaders, the drivers of unit culture and readiness.  The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibilities. Forward based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen the Alliance. 
Guests:
COL Michael F. Kloepper, Commander, 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army
CSM Christopher D. Clapin, Sergeant Major, 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. Army
Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center of Leadership
 
Resources:
173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. ArmyWeb: https://www.skysoldiers.army.mil/
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Fort Hunt, now an open space between the Pentagon and George Washington’s Mount Vernon, was the site of secret operations during World War II. Robert K. Sutton, author of Nazis on the Potomac, joins AUSA’s Joe Craig to discuss the military intelligence programs at the site.  The American soldiers at Fort Hunt, many who were Jews that had escaped Nazi Germany as children, interrogated high-level German prisoners and analyzed captured documents to gather crucial information for commanders to win the war.  
.
 
Guest:  Robert K. Sutton, author of Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win World War II
 
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA Book Program Director
 
Resources:
 
Case Mate Publishers: Nazis on the Potomac
Web: https://www.casematepublishers.com/nazis-on-the-potomac.html#.YersEP7MJnI
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Are you prepared? Join us to learn how to prepare your Army spouse Resource Toolbox for the unexpected curveballs life throws. Krista Simpson Anderson, has been a military spouse for 13 years and she shares the importance of being equipped and empowered as a military spouse. Listen as she shares the resources in her toolbox and what you should have in yours. To prepare your Resource Toolbox check out the resources section below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Guest: Krista Simpson Anderson, Unquiet Professional Co-Founder
 
Host: Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
 
    
Resources: 
 
AUSA Family Readiness Resources
Website: www.ausa.org/military-families
 
Unquiet Professional
Website: www.theunquietprofessional.org/partners/