web02.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:08:52 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Tango Alpha Lima Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Patriotism” https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/tags/patriotism Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400 Three Global War on Terrorism veterans interview military veterans and other influencers in the military community who share stories related to transitioning, valor and heroism, mental wellness and overcoming PTSD, accessing VA benefits and much more. Join us each week for vibrant camaraderie, playful joking and hot takes on current events, interesting trends and quirky stories of interest to the military and veteran community. This weekly podcast is produced by The American Legion. For more stories and videos please visit www.legion.org/tangoalphalima en-us episodic A podcast for and by military veterans and service members, brought to you by The American Legion The American Legion Three Global War on Terrorism veterans interview military veterans and other influencers in the military community who share stories related to transitioning, valor and heroism, mental wellness and overcoming PTSD, accessing VA benefits and much more. Join us each week for vibrant camaraderie, playful joking and hot takes on current events, interesting trends and quirky stories of interest to the military and veteran community. This weekly podcast is produced by The American Legion. For more stories and videos please visit www.legion.org/tangoalphalima no veterans, military service, The American Legion, community, transition, PTSD, service members, careers, military life, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force National Guard, Reserves, DoD, defense, national security, veterans service organizations, VA benefits The American Legion hsoria@legion.org Episode 275: A transgender service member speaks out about being forced out https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/275 84633600-6703-4daf-91b0-a9d1a729218e Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400 The American Legion 275 A transgender service member speaks out about being forced out full 6 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 1:24:52 no 250 ways to participate in The American Legion USA 250 Challenge THE INTERVIEW Col. Bree Fram, a transgender Space Force member, is being forced out of the military and end her 23-year service that began with the Air Force. Fram is currently headed toward retirement due to President Trump’s prohibition on transgender service that was implemented in 2025. The White House implemented the transgender ban through an Executive Order and Department of Defense (DoD) policies. Fram speaks as a civilian as she discusses her time in the military, issues related to her transition and more. SCUTTLEBUTT Army moves to dismantle most ceremonial horse units How WWII helped normalize tattoos MOH recipient Clint Romesha is getting a new comic book highlighting his actions in Afghanistan Special Guest: Col. Bree Fram. military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, aeronautics, transgender, lgbtq+, military retirement, air force, national security, patriotism, space force, aerospace engineering, astrological engineering, problem-solving, GPS, satnav, innovation, service, gender identity, patriotism, stereotype, advocacy, personal histories, leadership, USA250, challenge, mental health, VCF, fitness, mental wellness, community service, equine units, army horse units, Arlington, veterinary care, farrier, caisson, animal welfare, animal husbandry, tattoo, medal of honor, COP Keating, Afghanistan, Taliban 250 ways to participate in The American Legion USA 250 Challenge

THE INTERVIEW
Col. Bree Fram, a transgender Space Force member, is being forced out of the military and end her 23-year service that began with the Air Force. Fram is currently headed toward retirement due to President Trump’s prohibition on transgender service that was implemented in 2025. The White House implemented the transgender ban through an Executive Order and Department of Defense (DoD) policies. Fram speaks as a civilian as she discusses her time in the military, issues related to her transition and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Army moves to dismantle most ceremonial horse units

How WWII helped normalize tattoos

MOH recipient Clint Romesha is getting a new comic book highlighting his actions in Afghanistan

Special Guest: Col. Bree Fram.

Links:

]]> 250 ways to participate in The American Legion USA 250 Challenge

THE INTERVIEW
Col. Bree Fram, a transgender Space Force member, is being forced out of the military and end her 23-year service that began with the Air Force. Fram is currently headed toward retirement due to President Trump’s prohibition on transgender service that was implemented in 2025. The White House implemented the transgender ban through an Executive Order and Department of Defense (DoD) policies. Fram speaks as a civilian as she discusses her time in the military, issues related to her transition and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Army moves to dismantle most ceremonial horse units

How WWII helped normalize tattoos

MOH recipient Clint Romesha is getting a new comic book highlighting his actions in Afghanistan

Special Guest: Col. Bree Fram.

Links:

]]> Episode 269: Best practices for financial success with David Vardeman – Tango Alpha Lima https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/269 c39ec1d9-ce5b-4934-91f7-e18f01dfd99b Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400 The American Legion 269 Best practices for financial success with David Vardeman – Tango Alpha Lima full 6 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 1:12:21 no Summer is in full swing and our hosts have big plans. THE INTERVIEW Navy veteran David Vardeman talks about guiding nonprofits to their goals, what’s led to his success, achieving financial literacy and more. A senior vice president for Capital Bank in Washington, D.C., Vardeman shares what led to his success, how he helps nonprofits and others meet their financial dreams and more. SCUTTLEBUTT An Oregon man who quit his job to set sail with his cat arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii ‘Cake Bandit’ opossum hospitalized after indulging in an entire Costco cake Woman who faked being a man to get into Magic Circle finally allowed in Special Guest: David Vardeman. military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, summer travel, grilling, service dog, international travel, psychedelic therapy, Czech Republic, social media, social anxiety, sailing, magic circle, Costco tuxedo cake, raccoon, Washington DC, DMV, Sons of The American Legion, finance, banking, philanthropy, patriotism, military family, focus, mental health, suicide prevention, be the one, financial literacy, non-profits, sailing, wild animals, opossum, magic circle, magician Summer is in full swing and our hosts have big plans.

THE INTERVIEW
Navy veteran David Vardeman talks about guiding nonprofits to their goals, what’s led to his success, achieving financial literacy and more. A senior vice president for Capital Bank in Washington, D.C., Vardeman shares what led to his success, how he helps nonprofits and others meet their financial dreams and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
An Oregon man who quit his job to set sail with his cat arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii

‘Cake Bandit’ opossum hospitalized after indulging in an entire Costco cake

Woman who faked being a man to get into Magic Circle finally allowed in

Special Guest: David Vardeman.

Links:

]]> Summer is in full swing and our hosts have big plans.

THE INTERVIEW
Navy veteran David Vardeman talks about guiding nonprofits to their goals, what’s led to his success, achieving financial literacy and more. A senior vice president for Capital Bank in Washington, D.C., Vardeman shares what led to his success, how he helps nonprofits and others meet their financial dreams and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
An Oregon man who quit his job to set sail with his cat arrives to cheering fans in Hawaii

‘Cake Bandit’ opossum hospitalized after indulging in an entire Costco cake

Woman who faked being a man to get into Magic Circle finally allowed in

Special Guest: David Vardeman.

Links:

]]> Episode 264: How to create a network of veterans with Mitchelene BigMan - Tango Alpha Lima https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/264 3bb42b6a-6d42-40dc-bab8-54854f8619e8 Tue, 20 May 2025 09:45:00 -0400 The American Legion 264 How to create a network of veterans with Mitchelene BigMan - Tango Alpha Lima full 6 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 1:13:11 no THE INTERVIEW Native Americans serve at a higher percentage than the general population. Still, there are misunderstandings about their culture and spiritual beliefs even among their brothers and sisters in the armed forces. In this week's episode, Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan talks about her military service as a Native American, importance of culture, creation of a Native American women veterans nonprofit and more. SCUTTLEBUTT Down the Reddit Rabbit Hole: Native Americans and the U.S. Military Tribal flags removed from Phoenix VA hospital under new federal policy Memorial Honoring Native American U.S. Veterans proposed for Minnesota Capitol grounds Special Guest: Mitchelene BigMan. military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, acism, native American, women, color guard, spirit, culture, sisterhood, healing, ritual, cleansing, combat engineer, MST, awareness, pow-wow, respect, Iraqi Freedom, jingle dress, Ojibwe, disappearances, human trafficking, Trail of Tears, Fancy Feather dancer, Fancy Shawl, Twilight movie, Brandenburg concerto, Nuremburg, Germany, residential school, poetry, Reddit Rabbit Hole, patriotism, GI Bill, duality, warrior ethos, Lakota, Phoenix VA, Veterans Affairs, tribal flag, DEI THE INTERVIEW
Native Americans serve at a higher percentage than the general population. Still, there are misunderstandings about their culture and spiritual beliefs even among their brothers and sisters in the armed forces. In this week's episode, Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan talks about her military service as a Native American, importance of culture, creation of a Native American women veterans nonprofit and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Down the Reddit Rabbit Hole: Native Americans and the U.S. Military

Tribal flags removed from Phoenix VA hospital under new federal policy

Memorial Honoring Native American U.S. Veterans proposed for Minnesota Capitol grounds

Special Guest: Mitchelene BigMan.

Links:

]]> THE INTERVIEW
Native Americans serve at a higher percentage than the general population. Still, there are misunderstandings about their culture and spiritual beliefs even among their brothers and sisters in the armed forces. In this week's episode, Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan talks about her military service as a Native American, importance of culture, creation of a Native American women veterans nonprofit and more.

SCUTTLEBUTT
Down the Reddit Rabbit Hole: Native Americans and the U.S. Military

Tribal flags removed from Phoenix VA hospital under new federal policy

Memorial Honoring Native American U.S. Veterans proposed for Minnesota Capitol grounds

Special Guest: Mitchelene BigMan.

Links:

]]> Episode 262: Patriotism in our National Parks with Chris Marvin https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/262 5bd0c478-d3be-4586-bb11-43b9b7ea1cc3 Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400 The American Legion 262 Patriotism in our National Parks with Chris Marvin full 6 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 1:28:44 no Veterans, fourth-graders get special access to National Parks 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. military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, Alabama, military family, ROTC, Notre Dame, Illinois, aviation, Blackhawks, Hawaii, Afghanistan, purpose, service, wounded veteran, National Park, spies, scam, Coca-Cola, history, healing, connection, therapy, patriotism, forest fires, climate change, memorial, public lands, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt Veterans, fourth-graders get special access to National Parks

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:

]]> Veterans, fourth-graders get special access to National Parks

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:

]]> Episode 211: Tango Alpha Lima: Comic artist and illustrator Stephen Russell https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/211 976daeb8-0b29-4d41-adf9-225e91770048 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0400 The American Legion 211 Tango Alpha Lima: Comic artist and illustrator Stephen Russell full 5 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 57:11 no The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis seeks veteran stories of service. THE INTERVIEW Army Airborne infantryman turned comic book creator, Stephen Russell, aka the Salty Skipper, talks about his service, what it takes to create a comic book and writing his memoir. Russell’s book, “Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq,” is a memoir detailing his experiences and memories of his deployment in 2006-07 to the front lines in Baqubah, Iraq. SCUTTLEBUTT No American vets traveled to Iwo Jima for annual ‘reunion’ marking pivotal WWII battle Hip replacements, other orthopedic devices not properly tracked by VA After Action Season 2 streaming online beginning May 6th Special Guest: Stephen Russell . military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, comic books, care packages, comic strips, comics, Native American veteran, Iraq, creative process, Baqubah, Iraq, memoir, author, self-reflection, deployment, catharsis, writing therapy, storyteller, patriotism, authentic stories, WWII, Vietnam, troop surge, article 15, FOB Warhorse, Petraus, artist, illustrator, veteran-owned business, Iwo Jima, honor, remembrance, ceremony, World War II, orthopedic joints The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis seeks veteran stories of service.

THE INTERVIEW
Army Airborne infantryman turned comic book creator, Stephen Russell, aka the Salty Skipper, talks about his service, what it takes to create a comic book and writing his memoir. Russell’s book, “Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq,” is a memoir detailing his experiences and memories of his deployment in 2006-07 to the front lines in Baqubah, Iraq.

SCUTTLEBUTT
No American vets traveled to Iwo Jima for annual ‘reunion’ marking pivotal WWII battle
Hip replacements, other orthopedic devices not properly tracked by VA
After Action Season 2 streaming online beginning May 6th

Special Guest: Stephen Russell .

Links:

]]> The Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis seeks veteran stories of service.

THE INTERVIEW
Army Airborne infantryman turned comic book creator, Stephen Russell, aka the Salty Skipper, talks about his service, what it takes to create a comic book and writing his memoir. Russell’s book, “Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq,” is a memoir detailing his experiences and memories of his deployment in 2006-07 to the front lines in Baqubah, Iraq.

SCUTTLEBUTT
No American vets traveled to Iwo Jima for annual ‘reunion’ marking pivotal WWII battle
Hip replacements, other orthopedic devices not properly tracked by VA
After Action Season 2 streaming online beginning May 6th

Special Guest: Stephen Russell .

Links:

]]> Tango Alpha Lima Be The One EP06: Grunt Style Foundation Founder Tim Jensen https://tangoalphalima.fireside.fm/talbto-06 0ca51810-ab9e-43e2-86ea-415360583168 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:45:00 -0500 The American Legion full 5 The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima is a podcast from The American Legion. Learn more at www.legion.org/tangoalphalima. 31:50 no Tim Jensen serves as Chief Brand Officer of Grunt Style LLC, Chairman of the Grunt Style Foundation and host of several popular veteran-focused podcasts. A Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq in September 2004 and participated in over 200 combat patrols in the extremely violent Northern Babil Province, Tim is a strong advocate for defending the rights, lives, and well-being of veterans who have defended this country. Tim discusses his military experience, how that led to his leadership role at Grunt Style LLC, and ultimately the Grunt Style Foundation, where he leads a team on a mission to provide resources and experiences that support veterans and servicemembers facing challenges with mental health, military transition, food insecurity and homelessness. Special Guest: Tim Jensen. military, veteran, post-9/11, GWOT, American Legion, service, community, Be The One, mental health, mental wellness, PTSD, suicide prevention, Grunt Style, t-shirt, lifestyle brand, WWII, Rolling Thunder, Vietnam Wall, Iraq, infantry, Operation Iraqi Freedom, combat, entrepreneur, small business, camaraderie, foot insecurity, PACT Act, hyperbaric chamber, active-duty, advocacy, transition assistance, Veterans Mental Health Assistance Coalition, suicide, USS Nimitz, Afghanistan withdrawal, apolitical, patriotism Tim Jensen serves as Chief Brand Officer of Grunt Style LLC, Chairman of the Grunt Style Foundation and host of several popular veteran-focused podcasts.

A Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq in September 2004 and participated in over 200 combat patrols in the extremely violent Northern Babil Province, Tim is a strong advocate for defending the rights, lives, and well-being of veterans who have defended this country.

Tim discusses his military experience, how that led to his leadership role at Grunt Style LLC, and ultimately the Grunt Style Foundation, where he leads a team on a mission to provide resources and experiences that support veterans and servicemembers facing challenges with mental health, military transition, food insecurity and homelessness.

Special Guest: Tim Jensen.

Links:

]]> Tim Jensen serves as Chief Brand Officer of Grunt Style LLC, Chairman of the Grunt Style Foundation and host of several popular veteran-focused podcasts.

A Marine Corps veteran who deployed to Iraq in September 2004 and participated in over 200 combat patrols in the extremely violent Northern Babil Province, Tim is a strong advocate for defending the rights, lives, and well-being of veterans who have defended this country.

Tim discusses his military experience, how that led to his leadership role at Grunt Style LLC, and ultimately the Grunt Style Foundation, where he leads a team on a mission to provide resources and experiences that support veterans and servicemembers facing challenges with mental health, military transition, food insecurity and homelessness.

Special Guest: Tim Jensen.

Links:

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