One of our first episodes of Season 6 resonated the most for us. Retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Col. Lee Ellis, who was shot down and captured during the Vietnam War, talks about leadership and team building lessons he learned during his five years as a prisoner of war, as well as throughout his military service and his 25 years as a leadership coach.
After making history as the Navy’s first Black female helicopter pilot, Dr. Kamin Samuel went from thriving to surviving when she transitioned out of the military.
Plagued by financial troubles after her business went bankrupt, Samuel put her faith and military discipline into action to overcome the suicidal thoughts that crept in.
Now she helps others identify their character strengths, is a best-selling author and documentary filmmaker.
Our listeners didn't sleep on this episode! It was one of the top downloaded episodes of 2025.
Sleep expert Dr. Tina Burke shares her experience working with veterans, first responders and others who have trouble sleeping and provides tips on how to improve sleep including meditation, breathing techniques and establishing a routine.
Army 1st Lt. Austin von Letkemann, better known to his Instagram followers as MandatoryFunDay, has become a frequent flyer on our show in 2025. But his first appearance was what made him one of our most impactful guests of 2025, when he talked about his unusual rise to fame.
His Instagram channel, with 20 million monthly views, features comedy videos that poke fun at various parts of military life.
Our list of Top 6 most impactful guests of Season 6 would not be complete without American Folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier, who talks about her addiction recovery, mental health journey and how she uses songwriting to help veterans with PTSD. She works with veterans on their healing through songwriting with SongwritingWith:Soldiers.
“What I try to emphasize is that this can be of service to other people — a lifeline actually, which it often is.”
First up in our Top 6 most impactful guests from 2025, renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns talks about his new documentary film on the American Revolution, his Vietnam War documentary series, his path to a career in movies and more. He has created a legendary catalog of documentary movies including “The Vietnam War,” “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The War,” “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea;” and more.
His films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 17 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. Other topics include the impact of funding cuts on PBS and NPR, what Reddit is saying about watching documentaries by Burns and more.
Get a sneak peek at “Sheepdog,” an uplifting, award-winning movie, inspired by countless first-hand accounts from veterans about recovery, redemption and the journey of healing.
Writer, director and actor Steven Grayhm and Emmy-winning actor Vondie Curtis Hall, who also stars in the film, are the guests in this episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Grayhm talks about interviews with veterans from the Vietnam War, Global War on Terrorism, OIF and OEF, and others that serve as the basis for this uplifting movie that highlights Post Traumatic Growth.
Also in this episode, a record $23.3 billion in VA claims benefits, Buddy Checks for the Army during the holiday season, and more.
SHOW LINKS
EP287 - Doug Evans The Sprouts Guy
Fuel the Fight - Fund the Mission
Army leaders ordered to check in daily with soldiers over the holidays
Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. Borgschulte, who played football for Navy, talks about about coming full circle in Annapolis - from attending as a midshipman to leading as the the United States Naval Academy Superintendent.
2026 Miss America Cassie Donegan joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. Donegan talks about how her life has been shaped by her father's experience as a 100% disabled Navy veteran and how she found resilience through participation in youth arts and theater programs.
Retired U.S. Special Forces Col. Michael "Sully" Sullivan served 30 years in the US Army, including 23 as a Green Beret. He is now Executive Director of Team RWB. Zachary Polega is a West Point graduate and former Infantry Officer who has overcome injuries from a grenade explosion during a special ops mission and joined 11 other RWB members for the 2026 Old Glory Relay. Zach and Sully joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA to share their experiences in military service and how they have translated that into a mission of health and wellness for veterans.
The Army-Navy Game is more than just a football game; it’s a celebration of camaraderie, tradition and the indomitable spirit of service. USAA SVP and West Point graduate Rob Bragg and USAA SVP and Naval Academy graduate Bill White joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. They talked about the passionate rivalry and shared values of these two esteemed military academies.
Actor Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and and former long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks, joins American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. The founder of MVP, Boyer shares his unique insights on leadership, discipline and the importance of service. With experiences that span both the military and professional sports, Boyer illustrates how foundational values shared in these worlds can inspire individuals to excel, and explains why organizations that help veterans find their tribe - like Merging Vets and Players and The American Legion are critical for mental wellbeing.
Baltimore Ravens Senior Vice President of Communications Chad Steele joins American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA to talk about how growing up as a military brat gave him the skills that help him thrive in his NFL career.
Social media influencers @MandatoryFunday (Austin von Letkemann) and @VivaLaVargas (Johnny Vargas) join American Legion Tango Alpha Lima Podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr to kick off a day of live interviews from USAA Media Row in advance of the Army/Navy Game presented by USAA.
The battle for equality in the U.S. military didn't happen overnight. It took decades of courage, persistence and women who refused to back down.
Documentary filmmakers Joy Bronson and Ellen Haring reveal the untold stories behind "The Fight to Fight," their upcoming feature film chronicling women's integration into combat roles from the 1970s through 2016. Hear firsthand accounts from a Gulf War Navy pilot and a retired Army colonel about the restrictions they faced, the lawsuit that changed everything, and why today's military women still face resistance. This episode of Tango Alpha Lima captures history in the making and honors the pioneers who proved they could "crush them with competence.”
Also in this episode, a preview of the Army-Navy Game, what’s ahead for Wreaths Across America and futuristic changes to an Army chow hall.
SHOW LINKS
Army vs Navy: Fuel the Fight. Fund the Mission
Wings of Gold: The Story of the First Women Naval Aviators
Learn more about "The Fight to Fight"
The most dangerous gravesite in the US resides in Arlington Cemetery
Air Force veteran Cami Gage shares her journey from competing in track and cross country at the Air Force Academy to becoming a professional triathlete and coach.
After her military career, Gage found deeper purpose in coaching adaptive and wounded veteran athletes, helping them overcome physical and psychological barriers through organizations like the Air Force Winter Warrior program and Semper Fi & America's Fund.
In this episode, she discusses the power of breathwork, mental regulation, and the fulfillment that comes from guiding others to achieve what they never thought possible. She reflects on the importance of continuing service, mental health and gratitude — and why showing up for people matters more than ever.
Also in this episode, a chat about Pearl Harbor's legacy, discussing the future of the USS Arizona, the continuing impact of service from those lost in the attack and more.
Marine veteran Tony Crescenzo's life changed in six days after reading an article on quantum physics where he sampled a technology on brainwave entrainment. That discovery led him to create Peak Neuro LLC to help other veterans and first responders transform mental health challenges into resilience.
The neuroscience and AI-driven platform harnesses proprietary neuroacoustic technology through a mobile app to enhance sleep, emotional resilience, and trauma recovery. It helps alleviate hypervigilance, PTSD and other effects of TBIs, brain fog, and other issues.
Other topics include the infamous Woody Woodpecker, a heartfelt story that inspired the Peanuts comic and the USA 250 Challenge.
Iraq War veteran Dr. Timothy Vermillion discusses his harm reduction approach to veteran mental health, trauma therapy, PTSD treatment and suicide prevention.
As founder of the Paradise Institute, he explains how EMDR memory therapy helps veterans process combat trauma and move from surviving to thriving. Vermillion shares how quitting smoking is also effective in mental health treatment and veteran suicide prevention.
Other topics in this episode include Project Athena, a visual map connecting the memories of those who served in Afghanistan to their coordinates; and “Angel’s Glow,” and why it took almost 140 years to understand it.
"I felt like a waste of life, getting on a boat with my best friends." That realization on a deep sea fishing trip led Eric Tansey from a surfer lifestyle straight into the Army where he became a paratrooper. But his story doesn't end there.
After serving his country, Tansey became a police officer in one of Raleigh’s toughest districts, turned his craziest police stories into a published book, Pig Latin; appeared in “Office Joe,” a comedy series about veteran office life; and now does the “Failure to Stop” podcast and stand-up comedy.
This episode is equal parts inspiring, hilarious and proof that the most unexpected paths can lead to the most interesting lives.
Other topics in this Tango Alpha Lima episode include Veterans Day themes like sharing your military story and supporting veteran-owned businesses.
Veterans Day Deals & Discounts
Learn more about the Army/Navy Game
Pig Latin: A Seriously Funny True Story of a Former Police Officer
Military veterans and military family members are guiding the concept and design for the memorial that will honor and remember all involved in the Global War on Terrorism.
The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is welcoming input into the design of the memorial from service members, GWOT veterans, their families, Gold Star Families, and others.
This is the final episode in “Welcome Home,” the initial six-part special podcast series produced by The American Legion. It focuses on the GWOT memorial in Washington, D.C., that will serve as a special place of honor and remembrance. Check back in the spring of 2026 for the next installment.