Tango Alpha Lima Podcast
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
Episodes
What does it take to reach tens of millions of people a month while still on active duty? For Army Sgt. First Class Johnny Vargas — better known as Viva La Vargas — it started with a car fire, a recruiting station and a promise to himself to show up every single day.
In this episode, Johnny chats about his journey from aspiring recording artist in Los Angeles to one of the military community's most trusted and entertaining voice...
On Aug. 26, 2021, Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, age 20, was among 13 servicemembers killed at the Abbey Gate in Kabul during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had wanted to be a Marine since he was 8.
In the weeks after Jared's death, condolence checks from strangers filled more than a foot of mail. His father, Mark, couldn't bring himself to spend a single dollar of it.
So he launched a nonprofit instead aimed ...
In 2003, Marine infantryman Ryan Roberts helped recover the remains of 18 comrades killed in the battle of Nasiriyah, many by friendly fire. The next day, his fire team stopped a vehicle at a checkpoint. When he opened the back door, he found two children aged four and six.
He had joined the military to protect the innocent. In doing the right thing, he violated that core value. And no one — not in 17 years of VA care and private tr...
Shannon Book grew up in the Kentucky hills, joined the Navy in the mid-1990s and spent 17 years as a Fleet Marine Force corpsman, including two tours in Iraq. He survived Fallujah running on coffee grounds and sheer grit. What nearly broke him came after.
When he was medically retired in 2010, the brothers he counted on had moved on, his marriage dissolved, and a years-long battle with alcohol and drugs nearly cost him everything. ...
Before she was War Hamster — the Air Force veteran and military influencer known for irreverent humor, insider satire and candid commentary on service life — she was picking up loose change to buy gas for her car. Two years of military rejections. Craigslist living. Multiple jobs. Finally the Air Force finally said yes.
War Hamster shares her honest, funny and deeply relatable life story and what it really means to serve, create an...
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith shares the compelling story of her 35-year military career, including 25 years serving under Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) while hiding her identity. As one of the first openly gay generals in U.S. military history, Smith discusses the psychological toll of living authentically in secret, the 2011 repeal of DADT, military-to-civilian transition, and moral injury.
Learn about LGBTQ+ veterans&...
Three-time national wrestling champion and Army Special Operations veteran Sally Roberts shares her powerful journey from delinquent youth to elite athlete and military leader.
Roberts, founder of Wrestle Like a Girl, discusses how wrestling saved her life, built her winning mindset, and prepared her for success in Special Operations and deployment to Afghanistan.
Learn about overcoming adversity, developing mental toughness, the p...
Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell lost his sight in a hunting accident in 1997. He was 30 years old, blind, and raising three daughters alone. What he did next is the kind of story that makes you rethink every excuse you've ever made.
In episode 303 of Tango Alpha Lima, Bedwell shares his extraordinary journey — from talking his way onto a construction crew as a blind man, to kayaking 226 miles through the Grand Canyon (earning National ...
Retired Air Force physician Dr. Mary Ann Kiel reveals how lifestyle medicine transformed her health and revolutionized her approach to treating servicemembers and military families.
As a board-certified pediatrician and lifestyle medicine physician, Dr. Kiel explains the six pillars of wellness: whole food plant-based nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep, stress management, social connection and avoiding harmful substances.
L...
Sleep isn't a luxury — it's a mission-critical function. And for veterans, the stakes are even higher. Dr. Sara Alger, Sleep Research Scientist with the Psychological Health Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, unpacks what chronic sleep deprivation is actually doing to your brain and body — and what you can do about it.
Alger explains why the military culture of "I'll sleep when I'm dead"...
Navy veteran Kelley Gilberry shares his inspiring transformation story from obesity and heart disease to optimal health.
Before age 40, Gilberry battled cardiovascular disease, high blood sugar and a 70-pound weight problem fueled by fast food. Discover how he reversed heart disease naturally through plant-based eating and lifestyle changes, and became a certified health coach and nutritionist. Learn about his "Medicine Free M...
From childhood trauma to military service, from a career-ending brain injury as a paramedic to Paralympic glory — Shawn Cheshire's story is one of extraordinary resilience.
In this powerful episode, the former US Army helicopter mechanic and 13-time US para-cycling national champion shares how she rebuilt her life after losing her sight at age 36. The Army veteran opens up about her journey from contemplating suicide to becomin...
Discover proven strategies for improving heart health and living longer with interventional cardiologist Dr. Columbus Batiste.
In this encore episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast, Dr. Batiste shares expert guidance on cardiovascular diseaseprevention, plant-based nutrition, and cardiac rehabilitation specifically for veterans and military families.
Learn about Healthy Heart Nation, his nonprofitorganization helpi...
Army veteran Kayla Williams served in combat, deploying to Iraq in 2003 as an Arabic linguist with the 101st Airborne Division.
Since retiring from the military, she has become a bestselling author, and leading advocate for women veterans and military families.
From serving without body armor plates during the 2003 Iraq invasion to navigating her husband's traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery, Williams shares her journey of re...
What does it take to make 200 armed, exhausted Marines laugh? Michael D'Angelo knows. The Las Vegas street punk turned Marine Corps veteran turned comedian created Rapid Fire Comedy Tour, a nonprofit delivering free standup shows to military bases nationwide.
From surviving Vegas streets — including a razor attack that required 32 stitches to his face — to living in his car while pursuing comedy in LA, D'Angelo's journe...
For Navy veteran Shawn VanDiver, a 2021 call from Afghanistan sparked the creation of AfghanEvac, now one of the most successful refugee advocacy organizations.
In this season premiere, VanDiver discusses his path from getting his GED to military service, his work with the Truman National Security Project, and how a single emergency became a mission supporting more than 195,000 Afghan refugees. He explains his community-first appro...
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 film...
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.
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