AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

Colonel Jesse L. Johnson is one of the most decorated American veterans of all-time, with his forty-plus career involving intense battles in the jungles of Vietnam to fighting Al Qaeda in the deserts of Saudi Arabia (and more). Host Joe Craig talks to him and co-author Alex Holstein about Johnson’s new memoir, Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man and the Colonel’s various escapades, including the origins of Delta Force, saving NATO Commanders from terrorists, and personally welcoming the Emir of Kuwait back after the Gulf War.
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA’s Book Program Director
  
Guests: 
Colonel Jesse L. Johnson, author of Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man
Alex Holstein, co-author of Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man
  
Resources: 
 
Rowman & Littlefield:
Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man 
 
Credits:
 
Opening Dramatization
 
Narrator: CSM (Ret.) Troy Welch, AUSA’s Director, NCO & Soldier Programs
Script: Anthony Del Col
Sound Design: Andy Bosnak
 
Book
Johnson, Jesse L., and Alex Holstein. Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press, 2022.

It’s a topic we all think about, yet so many people are scared to even discuss it. Yes, we’re talking about personal finances. On this episode host Holly Dailey (along with guest co-hosts Maria McConville and Alexandra Grinston) find out from Justin Hall of the Department of Defense’s Office of Financial Readiness how easy it is to master your wallet. Whether you’re just starting out, planning for college, stuck in a mountain of debt, looking to buy a home or perhaps thinking about retirement, Justin will impart some wisdom and tips that can easily turn you into a “money nerd”. To learn more please check out this episode and the resource section below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
Hosts:
Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
Maria McConville, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Army
Alexandra Grinston, Spouse of the Sergeant Major of the Army
Guests: 
Justin Hall, Strategic Communications Manager, Office of Financial Readiness
Cindy A. Risch, Military Spouse 
Resources: 
MilSpouse Money Mission
Website: https://www.milspousemoneymission.org/
 
Social Media Handles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilSpouseMM/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milspousemoneymission/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilSpouseMM

The 1st Infantry Division has a heralded reputation, having played major roles from World War I onwards. Its current Commander, Major General D.A. Sims, over the last two years has modernized the division with some groundbreaking techniques. Host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead sits down with D.A. to discuss early leadership lessons, the value of leading mental health initiatives by example, and their shared time at West Point. 
Guest: MG D.A. Sims, Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley
Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center of Leadership
 
Resources:
1st Infantry Division and Fort RileyWeb: https://home.army.mil/riley/index.php
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

How hard is it to turn a hobby into a successful business? Former Army Captain Kevin Ryan decided that rather than look for a new job he’d create one – and realized he wanted to turn his home brewing hobby into a real-life business. Host Sergeant Major of the Army (retired) Dan Dailey sits down for a drink (or two) with Kevin at Service Brewing in Savannah, GA to discuss Kevin’s Army career, the ins-and-outs of the brewery business, and most importantly… what his top beer is.  
Guest: Kevin Ryan, former U.S. Army Captain and CEO & Co-Founder, Service Brewing, Co. 
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs 
 
Resources: 
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. 

Of the countless heroes from World War II, four men in particular inspired acclaimed author Alex Kershaw (The Liberator) to devote years researching their lives and tales of survival. Host Joe Craig talks to Alex about his book Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II, the men he chose to profile, the overwhelming obstacles they had to overcome, and how one fights Nazis from a burning tank destroyer. Check out the resource section below for more book details.
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Guest: Alex Kershaw, author of Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II
 
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA’s Book Program Director
 
Resources: 
 
Penguin Random House: 
Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II
 
 
Podcast Credits
 
Narrator: CSM (Ret.) Troy Welch, AUSA’s Director, NCO & Soldier Programs
 
Kershaw, Alex. “Chapter 1.” Essay. In Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II. New York: Random House Large Print, 2022.
 

Did you know that Elmo’s parents are in the National Guard? For the last fifteen years Sesame Street have been running a program for Military Families giving over 750,000 military children videos and resources they can use to understand their world. Sabrina Huda of Sesame Workshop chats with Family Voices host, Thea Green, to discuss her own unconventional journey to Sesame Street, what resources Sesame Street for Military Families (SS4MF) provides, and what Elmo, Rosita, and Big Bird are like in real life. To learn more please check out their website linked in the resource section below. 
 
 Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
 
Guest: Sabrina Huda, Project Director, Sesame Workshop
 
Host: Thea Green, AUSA’s Deputy Director for Family Readiness
 
Resources: 
Sesame Street for Military Families (SS4MF) 
Website: https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/
Sesame Street in Communities
Website: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/
 
Social Media Handles:
Sesame Street for Military Families
Facebook: @SesameStreetForMilitaryFamilies
Sesame Street in Communities
Facebook: @SesameStreetInCommunities
Twitter: @SesameCommunity
Music Credits:
Sesame Street for Military Families, “Coming Back| Temporary Duty,”22 September 2021, video, 3:10, https://youtu.be/9MQTswkpaPg.  

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the envy of governments and militaries around the world, a group in which officers and civilian engineers work hand-in-hand. Major General Diana Holland, the Commanding General of the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division, shares with host Colonel Scott Halstead leadership skills learned from her time with the Corps, insights she received from students at West Point and lessons from a legendary college basketball coach.
Guest: MG Diana M. Holland, Commanding General, Mississippi Valley Division, United States Army Corps of Engineers (bio)
Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead, Director of AUSA’s Center for Leadership
 
Resources:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Mississippi Valley DivisionWeb: https://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Have you heard about the new Enterprise Exceptional Family Member Program System? LTG Evans joins us to share the program details and Army's Quality of Life initiatives updates. Learn about Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs; Child, Youth and School Services; and the new Enterprise Exceptional Family Member Program (E-EFMP) system, which automates enrollment in the program and allows Soldiers and Families to track enrollment their entire career. For more information, check out the resource section below.
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Guest: LTG Jason Evans, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 Installations
 
Hosts: 
Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director for Family Readiness
SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs 
  
Resources: 
 
G-9 Installations
Web: https://dcsg9.army.mil
 
 
Social Media Handles:
Twitter: @dcs_g9
Twitter: @USArmyHousingFacebook: @USArmyHousing
Facebook: @soldierandfamilyreadiness 
  

How difficult is it to transition from the Army to entrepreneurship? Former Army Command Sergeants Major Marissa and Thomas Capel found an opportunity in baked goods and have subsequently seen their prospects rise. They share their story, insights into the pros-and-cons of owning a franchise, and lessons they learned from their years of service. This is the first of a Soldier Today summer series on veteran entrepreneurs led by Sergeant Major of the Army (retired) Dan Dailey.
Guests:
CSM (Ret) Marissa Capel, Franchise Co-Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes
CSM (Ret) Thomas Capel, Franchise Co-Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Hosts:
SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
CSM (Ret) Troy Welch, AUSA’s Director for NCO and Soldier Programs
Resources:
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.

Are codes the key to victory on the battlefield? In the build-up to World War I Colonel Parker Hitt recognized the Army’s non-existent cryptology methods could lead to countless deaths and created an entirely new system, laying a foundation that exists to this day. Host Joe Craig chats with Betsy Rohaly Smoot, the author of the new biography Parker Hitt: The Father of American Cryptology, to unlock the secrets of the man and his methods.
Guest: Betsy Rohaly Smoot, Author, Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA’s Book Program Director
Resources:
University Press of Kentucky:Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.