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Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

News & Politics Podcasts

Join us for vibrant camaraderie, playful joking and hot takes on current events, interesting trends and quirky stories of interest to the military and veteran community. The weekly podcast is produced by The American Legion. For more stories and videos please visit www.legion.org/tangoalphalima

Location:

Indianapolis, IN

Description:

Join us for vibrant camaraderie, playful joking and hot takes on current events, interesting trends and quirky stories of interest to the military and veteran community. The weekly podcast is produced by The American Legion. For more stories and videos please visit www.legion.org/tangoalphalima

Language:

English

Contact:

3176301314


Episodes
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Episode 247: Tango Alpha Lima: Folk musician Mary Gauthier on helping veterans through songwriting

1/21/2025
American Folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier 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.” SCUTTLEBUTT VA awards $1.5 million to study using psychedelics for PTSD treatment The Army built a giant concrete pyramid in North Dakota and only used it for six months Vets can opt for ‘green’ burials at VA cemeteries through new pilot Special Guest: Mary Gauthier.

Duration:01:06:22

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Episode 246: Tango Alpha Lima: Former POW and Leading with Honor founder Col. Lee Ellis

1/14/2025
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. SCUTTLEBUTT Now is the time to plan for the 100th Anniversary of American Legion Baseball NASA Scientists Accidentally Find Nuclear Fever Dream in Arctic Snow Marine lights candles for romantic hotel surprise, sets room on fire Special Guest: Col. Lee Ellis.

Duration:01:13:29

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Episode 245: Tango Alpha Lima: Iraqi-born interpreter and U.S. Army Capt. Mazin Mozan

1/7/2025
We kick off the new year with a few resolutions and a memory of Sammi, the Iraqi interpreter who worked with Joe and his Marines. THE INTERVIEW Mazin Mozan, who served as an interpreter with Stacy in Iraq shares his story of serving with Coalition forces, gaining a Special Immigrant Visa and moving to the United States, and his enlistment in the U.S. Army. SCUTTLEBUTT Norwegian fishermen accidentally catch U.S. sub in net Thousands of U.S. affiliated Iraqis in harms way due to refugee program delays 'Disturbing' Number of VA Mental Health Appointment Cancellations Prompt Lawmakers to Call for Reforms Special Guest: Mazin Mozan.

Duration:01:18:42

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Episode 244: Tango Alpha Lima: Health Coach and Nutritionist Kelley Gilberry

12/17/2024
Navy veteran and Legionnaire Kelley Gilberry shares his knowledge about overcoming heart disease and obesity. After his own health journey, Gilberry is now on a mission to show others how to revolutionize their health without relying on pharmaceuticals. SCUTTLEBUTT Post Falls, Idaho American Legion offering free Christmas trees for veterans Keokuk, Iowa Post 41 hosts 52nd annual Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day Kerry Washington and Tyler Perry Unlock an Untold True Story in 'The Six Triple Eight' Special Guest: Kelley Gilberry .

Duration:00:52:43

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Episode 243: Tango Alpha Lima: National Military Family Association CEO Besa Pinchotti

12/10/2024
THE INTERVIEW National Military Family Association CEO Besa Pinchotti talks about her family roots in Kosovo, and how her time as a journalist led to her advocacy for American military families. She also explains how NMFA helps meet the immediate needs for military spouses and children as well as advocate for legislation to make permanent changes to support military families. SCUTTLEBUTT Next year’s Congress will feature the most women vet members ever Bronze Statue of Tuskegee Airman Found After Theft from Detroit City Park Special Guest: Besa Pinchotti.

Duration:00:49:48

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Episode 242: Tango Alpha Lima: Wives of the Armed forces founders Jennifer Ferrell and Kirsten Navaroli

12/3/2024
Wives of the Armed forces co-founders and content creators, Jen Ferrell and Kirst Navaroli, talk about their unique corner of the internet where thousands of military spouses share experiences as they live the chaotic military lifestyle, support their spouses, one another, and the mission. Jen and Kirst share how they became military spouses, how they met and found themselves leaning on one another for support, and began to grow their online community of "virtual military besties." SCUTTLEBUTT VA plans to drop co-pays for all telehealth services Meet CHAPPIE - the Space Force nuclear material sniffing robot. Support military spouse and veteran-owned businesses while checking off your holiday shopping list. Special Guest: Wives of the Armed Forces.

Duration:01:09:04

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Tango Alpha Lima Be the One EP16: VA Chief of Innovation Dr. Indra Sandal

12/1/2024
Department of Veterans Affairs Chief of Innovation, Dr. Indra Sandal, tells the story of how she became a U.S. citizen, why she was drawn to work with veterans and what led to her work to bring new innovations to VA health care. Dr. Sandal talks about how her work led to VA rideshare programs with Uber and Lyft. She also talks about VA's collaboration with MIT – the Veterans Health Hackathon – which strives to design solutions to the top challenges facing veteran health care, including mental health and veteran suicide. Special Guest: Dr. Indra Sandal.

Duration:00:44:28

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Episode 241: Tango Alpha Lima: How diet affects mental wellness with Dr. Uma Naidoo

11/26/2024
Abraham Lincoln and the first Thanksgiving THE INTERVIEW Dr. Uma Naidoo, nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutritional biologist and author, shares her knowledge of how our diets affect our brains and mental wellness. Dr. Naidoo also talks about the connection between food, culture and community, how to make small modifications that make family favories into healthier choices, and how she helps people understand food as medicine. SCUTTLEBUTT Follow Stacy down the Reddit Rabbit Hole for tales of Thanksgiving on deployment The bear who was a private in the Polish Army Special Guest: Dr. Uma Naidoo.

Duration:00:59:21

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Episode 240: Tango Alpha Lima: Military analyst and author Ethan Brown

11/19/2024
Happy Birthday to the Kindle. THE INTERVIEW Air Force veteran and author Ethan Brown is a Senior Fellow for Defense Studies at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress (CSPS), a bipartisan think-tank in Washington D.C. He is also the author of the “Visual Friendlies, Tally Target” trilogy (Casemate Publishers), chronicling the role of forward air controllers and Close Air Support in the Global War on Terror. Ethan shares how his background as a TACP with multiple combat deployments led him to his writing career, and discusses the work he does with CSPS work to address the military recruiting crisis and toxic exposure issues among military veterans. SCUTTLEBUTT Follow Stacy down the Reddit Rabbit-hole as she explores "Random ways people got out of deployment" Bravo Zulu to South Carolina post who did Buddy Checks in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Special Guest: Ethan Brown.

Duration:01:01:17

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Episode 239: Tango Alpha Lima: The Power of Lifestyle Medicine with Air Force veteran Dr. Mary Anne Kiel

11/12/2024
Retired Air Force physician, Dr. Mary Anne Kiel, is a Pediatrician and a Food for Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Her work with Lifestyle and Performance medicine has helped servicemembers and their families learn how to make sustainable behavioral changes that improve health and wellness over the course of their lifetime. Dr. Kiel discusses how being actively social, embracing a healthy, whole food plant-based diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep can increase a patients' healthspan - or the amount of time that an individual can be healthy and active during their lifespan. SCUTTLEBUTT Go Army! Go Navy! American Legion gearing up to be first veterans service organization to sponsor the Army Navy Game. More than 800 US veterans given honourable discharges after 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' review The Best World War II Movies, According to Service Members and Veterans Special Guest: Mary Anne Kiel.

Duration:01:02:04

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Episode 238: Tango Alpha Lima: Vet the Vote Co-Founder Anil Nathan

11/2/2024
We're dropping this episode a few days early in honor of election day. While The American Legion is a non-partisan organization, we have, since our earliest days, believed in the right to vote. Our "Get Out the Vote" program encourages all Americans to register and vote in all elections. In addition, Legionnaires, posts, districts and departments are encouraged to fully involve themselves in the electoral process by serving as poll volunteers, poll workers and by encouraging and assisting others to register and vote. This week, our guest is Anil Nathan, is co-founder and co-chairman of the board at We the Veterans, and Vet the Vote - which is a national campaign to recruit veterans and military family members to become poll workers. Anil, who is a first-generation American and second-generation Air Force veteran, shares his own military story, and how he began his mission to foster civic engagement for veterans and their families. SCUTTLEBUTT Marine Corps veteran allegedly kicked off flight for wearing a t-shirt calling for an end to veteran suicide. New television comedy features The American Legion Send us your burning questions about the Space Force for our upcoming interview with Gen. Chance Saltzman Special Guest: Anil Nathan.

Duration:01:01:50

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Tango Alpha Lima Be The One EP15: Filmmaker Jake Rademacher

11/1/2024
Filmmaker Jake Rademacher honors his brothers’ service by creating award-winning movies about their deployments and life after the war. Between 2005-2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving in Iraq in the award-winning feature film, Brothers at War – which has led to resiliency workshops and much more. 20 years later, Jake traveled to four continents to reconnect with his brothers as well as the other elite soldiers and Marines he embedded with during the Iraq War. Intercutting footage past and present, movie watchers are led on an insightful, humorous and moving journey as warfighters explore loss, meaning, and hope on their path from warfighter to veteran. Jake shares the story of his journey between the two films, his passion for helping servicemembers and now veterans, tell their own stories through resiliency workshops. Special Guest: Jake Rademacher .

Duration:00:43:08

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Episode 237: Tango Alpha Lima: Be Unstoppable with former Navy SEAL Alden Mills

10/29/2024
Scary Bad Halloween Dad Jokes THE INTERVIEW Former Navy SEAL Alden Mills finds joy in helping people do more than they originally thought possible. So he’s on a mission to help 100 million people be unstoppable and go after their goals. He talks about staying connected to your military identity, embracing discomfort as a stepping stone toward growth and overcoming self-doubt to accomplish goals. SCUTTLEBUTT Vietnam's lifesaving 'Dustoff' Medevac Crews to get Congressional Gold Medal Duke linemen go extra mile to restore power to Asheville VA Hospital after Helene Reddit Rabbit-hole: Base hotel horror stories. Special Guest: Alden Mills.

Duration:01:02:31

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Episode 236: Tango Alpha Lima: Burn Pits 360 Activist Danielle Robinson

10/22/2024
Duct Tape debuts at Paris Fashion Week THE INTERVIEW Danielle Robinson — the surviving spouse of the late Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, namesake of the PACT Act – joins the podcast to share her family's story and how she and her husband became champions for passage of this historic legislation. Danielle also shares how she honors Heath's legacy as an activist and advocate for Burn Pits 360, fighting for servicemembers and veterans exposed to hazardous environments while serving. SCUTTLEBUTT ‘Area 52’ Veterans Call Out US Government for Refusing to Acknowledge Health Issues Caused By Radiation Exposure U.S. Army helicopter repurposed into an Airbnb in Florida Remembering country music legend and U.S. Army veteran, Kris Kristofferson Special Guest: Danielle Robinson.

Duration:01:13:33

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Episode 235: Tango Alpha Lima: Blue Star Families Founder and CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet

10/15/2024
Blue Star Families founder and CEO, Kathy Roth-Douquet, is dedicated to her organization's mission to reshape the way America supports its military. Kathy shares how her own family's military journey led her to help military families by connecting them with their neighbors to create communities of mutual support. She discusses how Blue Star Families works to tackle issues faced by military families, such as military spouse unemployment, financial insecurity, and the challenges more than 600,000 families face each year when they relocate to new communities. SCUTTLEBUTT Military costumes for Halloween Amid setbacks in Ukraine, Russia is stepping up its recruiting efforts. Dive down the Reddit Rabbit-hole with Tango Alpha Lima Special Guest: Kathy Roth-Douquet.

Duration:01:06:53

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Episode 234: Tango Alpha Lima: Stronghold Food Pantry CEO and founder Monica Bassett

10/8/2024
Monica Bassett, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry, is a Military Food Insecurity Expert and a dedicated advocate for military families facing this issue. A military spouse and the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran, Monica knows first-hand the struggle some families face when it comes to food insecurity. She shares how her own experiences influenced her commitment to helping others, and why she continues to build trust and serve others with dignity. SCUTTLEBUTT Bravo Zulu to an Arizona post who helped distribute 250,000 lbs of food The U.S. Navy has run out of pants Special Guest: Monica Bassett.

Duration:00:42:01

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Episode 233: Tango Alpha Lima: Exit 12 Dance Company co-founder and Artistic Director Román Baca

10/1/2024
THE INTERVIEW Román Baca, Artistic Director of Exit12 Dance Company is a classically trained ballet dancer and choreographer who, in 2001, took a hiatus from dance and enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he served as a machine-gunner and fire-team leader in Fallujah, Iraq. Baca shares how he founded Exit 12 Dance Company to give veterans a storytelling platform through dance, theater and movement. SCUTTLEBUTT Reviewing Raygun - the breakout Olympic break dance competitor How Navy chiefs conspired to get themselves illegal warship Wi-Fi Bravo Zulu to Legion members in Canton, Ga. Special Guest: Román Baca.

Duration:00:59:52

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Tango Alpha Lima Be The One EP14: Green Star Mother and Veteran Suicide Prevention advocate

10/1/2024
Suicide awareness advocate Jerri Reed shares the story of losing her son, Iraq War veteran Cody Comacho, who took his own life after a 20-year battle with PTSD. Reed is striving to educate others about the dangers of using psychiatric drugs as PTSD treatment. Special Guest: Jerri Reed.

Duration:00:39:10

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Episode 232: Tango Alpha Lima: VA Pact Act Transitional Executive Director Steven Miska

9/24/2024
The gang is back together - and things get a little hairy before our guest arrives. THE INTERVIEW In his role as PACT Act Transitional Executive Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Army veteran Steven Miska serves as the senior advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs – providing oversight on the development, adoption and implementation of the PACT Act. Miska talks about his military experience, the journey that led him to his role at VA, his work in the veteran non-profit space and his involvement with resettlment of interpreters from conflict zones. SCUTTLEBUTT New documentary by Army veteran highlights the struggles faced by homeless veterans in Los Angeles. Years into civilian jobs, vets struggle with networking, resume skills Navy SEAL astronaut doctor Jonny Kim will blast off into space next year Special Guest: Steven Miska.

Duration:01:17:04

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Episode 231: Tango Alpha Lima: "The Littlest" Navy SEAL David Brown

9/17/2024
Joe marks his “hurt-a-versary” by looking back to the day 20 years ago when he was injured while running to assist a vehicle that had been hit by an IED. THE INTERVIEW Standing at 5'3" and weighing 110 pounds, young Navy recruit David Brown was laughed at and told he'd never make it through BUDS and become a SEAL. But Brown was determined. "If there was someone telling me I couldn’t do it, then this is the job for me. I was going to be Jacques Cousteau with a shotgun.” Brown shares how he proved the doubters wrong, the story of his military and federal law enforcement careers, and his book "And Goliath" in this week's episode. SCUTTLEBUTT No matter what happens in November...there will be a military veteran serving as vice-president. Rocky, a formerly-stray rescue dog who is now a Service Dog in training, is throwing his paws into the 2024 race to the White House. The Legion "Get Out the Vote" program encourages all Americans to register and vote in all elections. Special Guest: David Brown.

Duration:01:11:24