GWOT Memorial Foundation CEO and former Army Green Beret Michael “Rod” Rodriguez chats with Chief of Staff and Army veteran Jennifer Ballou, who will host the upcoming series. The memorial will honor and remember military members who served since 9/11.

Rodriguez and Ballou talk about their personal connections to the Global War on Terrorism, the memorial foundation and more in advance of the first episode of Season 1 of "Welcome Home," which will be released on Oct. 2.

Special Guest: Michael "Rod" Rodriguez.

Links:

• Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation - Advocating for a memorial on the mall for GWOT service members.

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation CEO Rod Rodriguez shares an update on plans for the memorial and a new podcast that launches with a pilot episode September 11.

Representatives of The American Legion’s community service project, Heroes United to Heal and Protecting Vets Foundation also chatted with the hosts of Tango Alpha Lima about the role of service, overcoming PTSD and military sexual trauma. All this and more in Part 2 of our episode recorded during the Legion’s National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

Special Guests: Alyse Duffy, Austin Von Letkemann, Bridget Lake, Donna A. Michaels, Jennifer Ballou, and Michael "Rod" Rodriguez.

THE INTERVIEW
Mike Corrado discovered the power of music while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Music offers the power to heal, honor the fallen and inspire. He has seen firsthand how teaching songwriting to amputees helps them heal and move forward. Corrado talks about his lifelong love of music, its power to heal, his singer/songwriter retreats for veterans and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
The moment 250 years ago today, June 17, when General William Prescott uttered the famous line, “Don’t one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”

An update to the Veterans Legacy Memorial’s online project

A “not friendly” macaque that is terrorizing military bases

Special Guest: Mike Corrado.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Learn more about Visual Sequela Progression
• Be The One | The American Legion
• The Citadel Fine Arts Program
• Rusty Tabor - My Legacy - YouTube
• Songwriting With: Soldiers | Transforming Lives by Collaborative Songwriting
• Coda - The Ballad of JoeDan - YouTube
• Mike Corrado Band
• Harmony Hill
• Join The American Legion
• USA 250 | Legiontown U.S.A.
• The American Legion Family USA 250
• VA’s online legacy project adds names of 210,000 vets lost overseas
• US Army Sounds Alarm as Aggressive Monkey Nears Base Families | GreaterGood
• Operation Spear Gunning Monkeys - YouTube

THE INTERVIEW
Army combat veteran Chris Marvin has found his passion and purpose in America’s national parks. In 2020, Marvin established the Park-to-Park Tour project to help share national parks with his children as a way to demonstrate the purpose and legacy of his own military service. He believes strongly that patriotism is exhibited through the enjoyment and protection of national parks and public lands.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Air Force warns airmen, veterans of foreign intelligence recruitment ploy

Celebrating 140 years of Coca-Cola

Special Guest: Chris Marvin.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Join The American Legion
• Free Entrance to National Parks for Current Military, Veterans, and Gold Star Families (U.S. National Park Service)
• Every Kid Outdoors
• Park-to-Park Tour
• Home - Paving The Way: The National Park-to-Park Highway
• Channel Islands National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Pinnacles National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• North Cascades National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Great Basin National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Haleakalā National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• Peace Vans: Camper Van Rentals, Repairs, and Sales
• Become A Junior Ranger (U.S. National Park Service)
• Air Force warns airmen, veterans of foreign intelligence recruitment ploy - Breaking Defense — Air Force warns airmen, veterans of foreign intelligence recruitment ploy
• An American GI’s best friend: Coca-Cola - Museum of the American G.I.
• Rum and Coca-Cola - The American Scholar

SCUTTLEBUTT
Anna Coleman Ladd: the American woman who sculpted new faces for battle-scarred WWI vets

The Healing Benefits of Humor and Laughter

National Debunking Day

Special Guest: Dr. Tina Burke.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• CMPN Training Products
• WRAIR: Biomedical Research
• Anna Coleman Ladd: Les Gueules Cassées (“The Shattered Mugs”) - The Manchester Cricket
• The American woman who sculpted new faces for battle-scarred WWI vets — The American woman who sculpted new faces for battle-scarred WWI vets
• Anna Coleman Ladd | Smithsonian Institution
• Anna Coleman Ladd: An Artist Who Created Hope for Wounded Soldiers – Pieces of History
• The Healing Benefits of Humor and Laughter - Whole Health Library
• DEBUNKING DAY - March 11, 2025 - National Today
• Wild Thing: Longform Podcasts about Science and Society | Foxtopus Ink

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation CEO Chris Cassidy leads the mission to inspire America and promote the belief that everyone is born with the potential to be extraordinary. He talks about his work to build a national museum, and the educational programs offered while the structure is being built.

The retired Navy SEAL and former NASA Chief Astronaut talks about his military and space career.

RAPID FIRE
Jon Bernthal Returning as the Punisher for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
Here's How to Get a 2023 MLB.TV Military Discount
National Parks jokingly warns not to 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear

Special Guest: Chris Cassidy.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Send us your feedback!
• Join The American Legion
• Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T. Poster | American Stroke Association
• Learn the health and mental benefits of yoga | The American Legion
• Be the One | The American Legion
• National Medal of Honor Museum - National Medal of Honor Museum
• Chris Cassidy – My Hand My Cause, Inc.
• Action Center
• (1) How to use the Bathroom in Space - YouTube
• Jon Bernthal Returning as the Punisher for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
• MLB.tv - Discounts for Military & Gov't | GovX
• National Parks jokingly warns not to 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear | CNN Travel
• Free Entrance to National Parks for Gold Star Families and Veterans (U.S. National Park Service)

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Award-winning multimedia journalist, former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent and current U.S. Navy Reserve PAO Amy Forsythe stops by to talk about her new book, "Heroes Live Here: A Tribute to Camp Pendleton Marines Since 9/11"

Amy shares stories about her career as a military and civilian journalist, her inspiration for her new book, and a case of stolen valor she helped uncover.

RAPID FIRE
Parris Island Marine Corps Band nominated for an Emmy
VA Confirms Vital EHR Computer System Has Gone Down More Than 50 Times Since Launching in Spokane
Airman slays ‘tedious repetitive tasks’ for comrades stuck in paperwork hell

SHOUTOUTS
Post 176 in Springfield, Va.
Post 539 in New Bern, N.C.

Special Guest: Amy Forsythe.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Send us your feedback!
• American Legion Legislative Action Center
• 100 Miles for Hope | The American Legion
• Heroes Live Here:A Tribute to Camp Pendleton Marines Since 9/11
• Tango Alpha Lima Podcast Episode 91119: Tango Alpha Lima remembers 9/11 with 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network Founding Member John Paluska
• HunterSeven Foundation » Post-9/11 Veterans, Toxic Exposures, Cancers.
• Stolen Valor: Scammer’s Claims of Marine Corps Heroism, Cancer Finally Crumble
• You Were There - Tribute to Pandemic Front Line Workers - YouTube
• Vital Computer System Has Gone Down More Than 50 Times Since Launching in Washington, VA Confirms | Military.com
• Airman slays ‘tedious repetitive tasks’ for comrades stuck in paperwork hell
• American Legion Post 176 Springfield, 6520 Amherst Ave Springfield, VA 22150, (703) 440-0336, vapost176@post176.org
• American Legion Post 539

THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Our hosts sat down for a live interview with Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation CEO and President, Michael “Rod” Rodriguez while in Orlando for SVA NatCon2022, for an update on the progress of the GWOT Memorial.

RAPID FIRE
2022 American Legion Legacy Scholarship Application open
Norwegian Armed Forces recycling used undies
VA wants to drop co-pays for mental health care

Special Guest: Michael "Rod" Rodriguez.

Links:

• Watch video of this episode on YouTube
• Send us your feedback!
• Join The American Legion | The American Legion
• Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation - Advocating for a memorial on the mall for GWOT service members.
• Team - Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation
• Text - H.R.1115 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
• Student Veterans of America Awards Inaugural Senator Bob Dole Continued Service Award to Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation - Student Veterans of America
• Find a Service Officer
• Legacy Scholarship: 2022 application open for military children of the fallen, disabled | The American Legion