Shows
AUSA’s Army Matters PodcastA Silent Night in WWII: A Special Christmas StoryOn Christmas Eve, 1944, Elizabeth Vincken and her twelve-year-old son, Fritz, sat down for a quiet Christmas Eve dinner, hopeful for a respite in the midst of deadly battles in the northern Belgian forest. Knocks on their door quickly turned their evening into a series of dramatic moments and standoffs, but Elizabeth’s bravery and compassion led to one of the most heart-filled – and unheard – stories of World War II. In this very special holiday episode, Army Matters senior producer Carrie Varouhakis and Army historian and writer Kevin Hymel unearth this story of a mother, a son, weary soldiers, warm food...
2025-12-1727 min
AUSA’s Army Matters PodcastGratitude: Why Is It So Important?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...
2022-09-1926 minAUSA’s Army Matters PodcastCan China’s Invasion of Taiwan be Prevented?Most people believe it’s not a question of if China will invade Taiwan, but “when”. So can this be prevented? Host Joe Craig sits down with Elbridge Colby to discuss his 2021 book The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, as well as how a possible war might play out, how the Chinese forces could be neutralized before that happens, and what allies could surprisingly play the biggest roles.
· Guest: Elbridge Colby, author of Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict
· ...
2022-08-2223 min
AUSA's Army Matters PodcastThought Leaders: Talent Management Part 1Colonel (Retired) Daniel Roper, host of Thought Leaders, interviews MG JP McGee, Director of the Army Talent Management Task Force. Their discussion addresses the security environment characterized by the 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy and its implications for how the Army must manage its most important asset – its people. MG McGee describes the profound changes the Army is making to its industrial-age personnel system to best leverage the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and preferences of its officers and its noncommissioned officers. This initiative is foundational to the everything that the Army is doing in terms of modernization including Multi-Domain Operations, Army Fut...
2019-09-2327 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastFamily Voices: Alcoholics Anonymous: A Military Journey to SobrietyHost Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness at AUSA, speaks with George W., a retired U.S. Army officer and A.A. member. He serves on the Alcoholics Anonymous trustees' Committee for Cooperation with the Professional Community, where he works to carry the A.A. message to the armed forces and veterans communities. George shares his personal story, explains the steps to help a loved one dealing with alcohol addiction and specifically focuses on how service members can find help with A.A.Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to sp...
2019-09-1628 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastArmy Real Talk: Life of a Deploying Unit: Adoption of the Black Jack BrigadeHost Nzinga A. Curry, Director of the Institute of Land Warfare at AUSA, along with guest co-host Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness at AUSA, sat down at Fort Hood with a few members of the Black Jack Brigade to discuss their upcoming deployment to Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR). Our guests were COL Jeremy Wilson, 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division, CSM Kevin Schuller, 1st Battalion 5th Calvary Regiment Command Sergeant Major, and Mrs. Amie Yazzie, spouse of the Brigade Command Sergeant Major. They provided insight on the brigade’s #1 priority – Readiness – which includes four p...
2019-09-0918 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastThought Leaders: Blood, Guts, and GreaseHost Joe Craig, Director of AUSA’s Book Program, speaks with author Jon Mikolashek about his new book Blood, Guts, and Grease: George S. Patton in World War I. This early-career biography illuminates how Patton organized and trained the US Army’s first tank brigade, then led it into battle in the Great War. It also shows how his early experiences as a tank commander laid the groundwork for the success of the entire US Army armored forces in World War II.Thought Leaders, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, brings in-depth conversations with authors of military books...
2019-08-2627 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastArmy Real Talk: The Other Side of the ArmySoldiers are always ready for battle, but their daily jobs are not always combat oriented. Co-hosts Nzinga Curry, Director, AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare, and MAJ Brad Cooper, Army Fellow, interview three Soldiers with out-of-the-box Army jobs. CPT Allison Brager serves as a neuroscientist researching sleep and is also a member of the elite Army Warrior Fitness Team. SGT Joseph Hampton dives as part of the Army’s select Dive Program which, among other missions, searches for Soldiers killed in action (KIA) or missing in action (MIA) from previous wars. SFC Christopher Jones recruits gamers to join the Army espo...
2019-08-1246 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastSoldier Today: Your Questions Answered: NCO Evaluation System Part 2During this highly anticipated follow-up episode, the Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Daniel A. Dailey answers listener questions about the new centralized NCO evaluation system as it moves from time-based to merit-based promotions, with host SMA (Retired) Ken Preston, Vice President, NCO & Soldier Programs, AUSA. Emphasizing respect and fairness built into the new system, the SMA responds to questions such as: Does advance training provide an advantage in the selection process? Can a Soldier be disadvantaged by being in a particular job already? What if raters show favoritism to their buddies?Listen to Part 1 here: 6 May Soldier Today...
2019-08-0517 min
AUSA's Army Matters PodcastThought Leaders: War AnimalsHost Joe Craig, Director of AUSA’s Book Program, speaks with author Robin Hutton about her new book War Animals: The Unsung Heroes of World War II. She tells the inspiring true stories of the recipients of the PDSA Dicken Medal, the highest award an animal can receive for gallantry and bravery on the battlefield. It also includes stories of other military animals whose acts of heroism had been largely forgotten.Thought Leaders, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, brings in-depth conversations with authors of military books and senior leaders. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via emai...
2019-07-2227 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastFamily Voices: Military Family Financial ReadinessHost Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness at AUSA, speaks with Angela Cabán, 2014 National Guard Spouse of the Year, Founder of Homefront United Network, and current Program Director for Military Saves, Consumer Federation of America. Angela shares her family’s personal story of bankruptcy and how they overcame their debt. She maps out the vital steps to seeking financial help, and emphasizes the importance of the military spouse support network in helping families reach their goals.Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to the...
2019-07-1526 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastArmy Real Talk: Debunking “Barracks Lawyer” MythsToday we debunk common legal myths with officers from the Army’s Office of the Judge Advocate General. Co-hosts Nzinga Curry, Director, AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare, and MAJ Brad Cooper, Army Fellow, interview LTC Megan Wakefield, Chief, Strategic Communications Office, and LTC Adam Kazin, Criminal Law Division, about the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), military punishments, corrective training, different types of Army discharges, court martials, and more.Army Real Talk, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to help AUSA and the Army better connect with the younger generation. Recommendations for future topics are welcom...
2019-07-0836 min
AUSA's Army Matters PodcastThought Leaders: The British Are ComingHost Joe Craig, Director of AUSA’s Book Program, speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Atkinson about his new book The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777. In this first volume of a new trilogy, Atkinson turns his attention from World War II to tell the story of the initial years of the American Revolution. After initial successes, the ragged Continental Army experiences a series of setbacks in the latter half of 1776. George Washington uses his political skills and force of will to supply his men and keep them in the field. With the new na...
2019-06-2423 minAUSA's Army Matters PodcastFamily Voices: MyArmyBenefitsHost Patty Barron, Director of Family Readiness at AUSA, speaks with Chelsea Ortiz, Program Manager for MyArmyBenefits, the Army’s official benefits information website. They discuss transferring GI Bill benefits, the Yellow Ribbon Program, managing divorce and TRICARE, and much more.Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.MyArmyBenefits LinksOfficial Site: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/GI Bill: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Post...
2019-06-1718 min