AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast
AUSA’s Army Matters podcast amplifies the voices of the Total Army – one story at a time. Join hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey every other Wednesday as they interview the modern chroniclers of the Army experience to discuss inspiring leadership stories, current issues faced by soldiers, and our military families’ journeys.
Episodes

Monday Feb 28, 2022
Thought Leaders: Immortal Valor
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
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

Monday Feb 21, 2022
Family Voices: The Piestewa Challenge – Honoring Women in Combat
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
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

Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
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.

Monday Feb 07, 2022
Soldier Today: Brain Health with BrainSpan’s Dr. Johnston
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
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.

Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
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.

Monday Jan 24, 2022
Thought Leaders: Nazis on the Potomac
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
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.
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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.

Monday Jan 17, 2022
Family Voices: Preparedness – Army Spouse Resource Toolbox
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 2022
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/

Monday Jan 10, 2022
Army Real Talk: Celebrating 200 Episodes & BIG Future Plans
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
Never can say goodbye, instead we will say thank you! Join us as we celebrate our 200th episode and discuss what's new for the podcast in 2022. LTC Bradley Cooper, Army Real Talk’s original co-host, returns to close our final Army Real Talk segment with Nzinga Curry. Listen as they highlight some their favorite episodes and what you can expect in the new segment, Leading Great Teams.
· Guest: LTC Bradley Cooper, Army Talent Management Task Force, U.S. Army
· Host: Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Monday Jan 03, 2022
Soldier Today: Why be an AUSA Member?
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Welcome Back! What does that mean exactly? Soldier Today sits down with Christine Lathrop, AUSA’s Deputy Director of Membership to discuss how we support soldiers, civilians and the community. For instance, did you know AUSA has 122 chapters located worldwide made up entirely of volunteers who contribute over $250,000 to awards, scholarships and support of soldier and family programs annually? You could be part of this amazing effort by joining AUSA as a member.
Guest: Christine Lathrop, AUSA’s Deputy Director of Membership
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
Resources:
AUSA Membership
Web: https://www.ausa.org/membership
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.

Monday Dec 27, 2021
Monday Dec 27, 2021
We are entering a new era of missile warfare. Today Dr. Tom Karako from CSIS joins AUSA’s Dan Roper to discuss the state of Long-range Strike and Air Defense in the Indo-Pacific, particularly the challenges and opportunities associated with the proliferation of multiple weapon systems capable of hypersonic speeds and maneuver. They describe the importance of both air and missile defense and land-based long-range fires to the defense of Guam and to enable the power projection necessary to secure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific for the U.S. and its Allies and Partners.
Guest: Thomas Karako, PhD, Senior Fellow, International Security Program and Director, Missile Defense Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s National Security Studies Director
Resources:
CSIS: Center for Strategic and International StudiesWeb: https://www.csis.org/
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.