AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

For the past forty years, Daryl Davis has befriended members of the Ku Klux Klan and convinced (directly and indirectly) over 200 to quit the organization. How has he accomplished this? And how can everyone apply this technique to their own life? Hosts LTG (Ret.) Les Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Mr. Davis - along with Chaplain (MG) Thomas Solhjem - to chat about the power of conversation, the beauty of music, and how the Army uses Mr. Davis' experience to help soldiers take care of their health, fitness and well-being.   Guests:CH (MG) Thomas L. Solhjem, Chief of Chaplains, United States Army Daryl Davis, Race Relations Expert and Musician, Actor and Author, Lyrad Productions   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.   If you are interested in supporting AUSA’s educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate.   Music Credits: Going Back To The Country, Karen Lee, and One Foot In The Graveyard; Written and performed by Daryl Davis; Courtesy of Lyrad Music and BMI Publishing.   Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

MSG Tim Kennedy was living a life without purpose until he joined the U.S. Army and then became an MMA fighter. Those two organizations allowed him to channel his aggression and led to a career as a top-ranked fighter, Army Special Forces sniper, television host, human trafficker hunter and entrepreneur. Series co-hosts LTG (Ret.) Les Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with  MSG Tim Kennedy to talk about how failure continues to drive him, how to take punches, and how a Captain’s dry humor changed his life.   Guest: MSG Tim Kennedy, co-author of Scars and Stripes: An Unapologetically American Story of Fighting the Taliban, UFC Warriors, and Myself   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.    Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

From the battlefields to the barracks to the boardrooms, Army Matters will find the best individuals and stories to entertain and inspire you. Produced by the Association of the United States Army. Subscribe and follow now.   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.    Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of the ever-present Bass Pro Shops, one of the world’s largest outdoor retail chains, makes his very first podcast appearance in today’s episode. New series co-hosts LTG (Ret.) Les Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Johnny to chat about how his father’s involvement in WW2’s Battle of the Bulge inspired him to make veterans and the military a priority for the business (and in life), how a love of fishing (and a mail catalog) led to the company’s success, and how one patriotic song (and its singer) has also inspired Johnny to give back to the country.   Guest: Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops founder and CEO   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.    Disclaimer: AUSA’s Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

Military spouse. Mother. Behavioral therapist. And AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year. Amanda Tomasura has spent the last fourteen years aiding her communities; she sits down with host Holly Dailey to discuss the importance of giving back to the community, how putting teens through boot camp can be an incredibly positive experience, and perhaps her most terrifying moment – jumping out of a plane.   Guest: Amanda Tomasura, 2022 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year Recipient   Host: Holly Dailey   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 

Lt. Colonel Jacob Helgestad was fast asleep in Kuwait when someone knocked at his door in mid-August, 2021. “Hey, Sir, we gotta go to Afghanistan.” Within 24 hours Helgestad’s 625 troops were landing at Hamid Karzai International Airport and in the thick of a mass evacuation. Host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead speaks with Helgestad about how he had his team prepared for that very moment, the role the unit played in evacuating 124,000 people, and how science fiction military novels are a great escape (and also a tutorial).Note: At the time, Lt. Col. Helgestad was Battalion Commander for the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, but has since changed roles.Guest: LTC Jacob Helgestad, Executive Officer, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard Host: COL (Ret.) Scott HalsteadRecommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 

After a painful medical diagnosis, Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Chad Butters and his wife Jodi decided to change their lives, leading them to pursue their passion about the outdoors, faming and starting a distillery. Host SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sits down with Chad at Eight Oaks Distillery, drinks in hand, to talk about Chad’s Army career, some sound advice for entrepreneurs and (most importantly?) what spirits he recommends. Guest: CW5 (Ret.) Chad Butters, Founder and CEO, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery Host: SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey Resources:  Eight Oaks Farm Distilleryhttps://eightoaksdistillery.com/   

What makes a battlefield hero? Is it upbringing, training, and being placed in a specific situation? Or a combination thereof? Host Joe Craig sits down with Dr. Raymond James Raymond, author of the book Elite Souls: Portraits of Valor in Iraq and Afghanistan, to discuss five heroes he profiled. Learn how their moral courage led them each to saving the lives of many, how these officers’ upbringings and West Point experiences influenced them, and how Dr. Raymond’s cousin’s exploits in World War II inspired him from a very young age.

For almost two centuries, women were not allowed to join the U.S. Military – yet millions served. Now with almost 20% of the military being female, the Military Women’s Memorial is celebrating the three million women who have served the Nation in both peace and war -- since before the founding of the Republic.  Host COL (Ret.) Dan Roper sits down with CW5 (Ret.) Phyllis Wilson, the Memorial’s President, to share their stories of bravery, how the Memorial is celebrating its 25th anniversary… and what types of (crumbled) cookies taste the best in a combat zone.    Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.    Guest: CW5 (Ret) Phyllis Wilson, President, Military Women’s Memorial   Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper    Audio Clip Credits:   Military Women's Memorial 25th Anniversary Program. YouTube, 2022. https://youtu.be/nBLpWsNa2K0.   US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. 2019. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-9129/.    

Throughout Master Sergeant (Ret.) Cedric King’s Army career he always faced challenges head on. His biggest obstacle, however, took place in 2012 when he was injured by an IED device and lost his legs. But rather than feeling sorry for himself, he accepted it and is now a triathlete, author and motivational speaker. Host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead talks to Cedric about the superheroes that inspired him at Fort Bragg, how hard it is to learn to walk again, and how a trip to a mini-mall changed his life.   Guest: MSG Cedric King, United States Army Retired Host:  COL Scott Halstead, United States Army Retired   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

In celebration of NCOs and Soldiers at AUSA’s 2022 Annual Meeting, 10-12 October in Washington, DC, SMA Michael Grinston swung by AUSA’s headquarters to talk about the exciting events: the Army Ten-Miler is in person; the new award for Best Squad will be presented; and the next Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army will be revealed. In addition, SMA Grinston provided a preview of his upcoming initiatives for his final year as Sergeant Major of the Army. The initiatives include reducing harmful behaviors throughout the force, modernizing recruitment, telling stories that remind us why we’re proud of our Army and more. Be sure to join us for his Initiatives Briefing in October!Guest: SMA Michael A. Grinston, Sergeant Major of the ArmyHost: SMA (R) Dan Dailey Resources: AUSA 2022 Annual Meeting & Expositionhttps://meetings.ausa.org/annual/2022/index.cfm   Sergeant Major of the ArmyWeb: https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/Twitter: @16thSMA   AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMARecommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

When Frank Dolberry was a teenager thinking of joining the Army, an acquaintance dismissed the notion, thinking it was an unrealistic dream for someone like him.  Major Frank Dolberry sits down with host Colonel (Ret.) Dan Roper to discuss how this motivated him to succeed, other inspirations he found along the way including the tremendous legacy of service in his family, and how he thinks the Army could improve its recruiting outcomes.    Guest:  MAJ Frank Dolberry, AUSA Army Fellow    Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper   Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 

When people are at their lowest point, sometimes something as simple as a note or small gift can make a world of difference. Major General (Ret.) James Johnson, the head of Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends gift packages to service members overseas, speaks with host Holly Dailey and co-host Maria McConville about the power of gratitude. And then social scientist Dr. Alaina Hansom joins to discuss research that proves the benefits of showing gratitude.   (In the spirit of this show… THANK YOU for listening to this episode!)      Hosts: Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness Maria McConville, Spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Army   Guests:  MG (Ret.) James Johnson, President and CEO, Operation Gratitude Alaina Hansom, PhD, Social Fitness Scientist, (HFJ) Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC), Uniformed Services University   Opening Credits:   Narrators: Kevin Irwin, Carrie Varouhakis, LaSherryn Duncan Script: Anthony Del Col Sound Design: Andy Bosnak   Resources:   Operation GratitudeWebsite: https://www.operationgratitude.com/   Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/   Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) – #GotMySix Campaign Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/total-force-fitness/gotmysix  

Military intelligence leaders generally work behind the scenes and are trained to shun the spotlight, but they play vital leadership roles in every single part of the Army. Major General Michelle Schmidt talks with host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead about her 30-year career, including being at the Pentagon on 9/11 to saying goodbye to friends in the final days of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan in 2021, and whether the book Fast After 50 should be considered fictional…   Guest: MG Michelle A. Schmidt, Director, Force Development, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

When military people hear about the U.S. Army Pacific area, they think about the ocean and the inevitable Navy presence there. But the region contains sixty percent of the world’s population and land patrol is the key to the region’s stability. Host Sergeant Major of the Army (retired) Dan Dailey sits down with General Charles Flynn, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, to talk about the region’s importance, training opportunities there for young officers, and some of the leaders that have inspired him over the years.  Guest: GEN Charles Flynn, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific Host: SMA(R) Dan Dailey Resources: U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)Web: https://www.army.mil/usarpacAUSA’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.