American Valor Podcast

Thoughts on writing, philosophy, leadership, heroism, and valor.

“LTC (Ret) JC Glick is a leadership consultant who advises at the strategic, operational, team and individual levels. He has a strong background in leadership development, executive personnel assessment and selection, strategy, coaching, counseling, and developing innovative solutions to complex problems.

JC served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer for 20 years, primarily in special operations and special missions units with more than 11 combat tours. Since retiring from the military, JC has brought his innovative and unconventional thoughts on education, leadership and resiliency into the private sector, consulting with Fortune 500 companies, the NFL and professional sports teams including the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers.

JC recently wrote and published the thought-provoking, groundbreaking book titled "A Light in the Darkness: Leadership Development for the Unknown," which has been implemented by major corporations including the NFL and Microsoft and endorsed by leaders in the field of education, business and the military.

JC is considered a thought leader in adaptive and proactive programs of instruction centered on the development of leadership behaviors and values suited to dynamic environments and situations of ambiguity and adversity. JC recently developed the "Prodromos Developmental Model," a capacity-building system designed to develop people and leaders for the future, which is outlined in his book. His methods have been featured in Forbes Magazine and the Huffington Post and his work has been referenced in Forbes, Inc. and Entrepreneur.

He holds a Masters Degree from the Naval War College and was a Senior Fellow in the Service Chief’s Fellowship at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

He has earned 3 Bronze Stars, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Commendation Medal, and the Order of Saint Maurice. He is a Liberty Fellow, a part of The Aspen Institute and the Aspen Global Leadership Network” (LinkedIn).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Merging Vets & Players (MVP)
A Light in the Darkness: Leadership Development for the Unknown by JC Glick and Sarah Ngu with forward by General Stanley McChrystal
Meditations of an Army Ranger: A Warrior Philosophy for Everyone by JC Glick, Dr. Alice Atalanta with forward by Mark Divine
“Reorienting Leadership to Be Effective” Ted Talk
JC Glick: A Warrior’s Wisdom
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Mr. Kenny Lofton shares stories from his seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball, including stealing bases, Omar Visquel, Frank Thomas, Albert Belle, and Bob Feller. Also hear about Mr. Lofton’s endeavors since retiring from baseball in 2007, including producing movies through FilmPool Inc. and starting and supporting the Still Got Game Foundation.

Lofton attended the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship. The Wildcats made it to the Final Four in 1988. Lofton made 11 postseason appearances, including World Series appearances in 1995 and 2002 with the Indians and Giants, respectively. From 2001 to 2007, Lofton did not spend more than one consecutive season with a team. For his career, the Indians were the only team he played with for longer than one season and the only franchise he played for more than once. Lofton played ​9 1⁄2 seasons with the Indians, helping the organization win six division titles. In 2010, he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. During his professional baseball career, Lofton's single-season stolen base count led the American League (AL) on five occasions and all of Major League Baseball (MLB) three times. In 1994, he led the American League in hits. Lofton broke Ricky Henderson's record of 33 career postseason stolen bases during the 2007 postseason. Of his base running, Frank White said, "Lofton has out-thought a lot of major-league players" and later, "a smart, complete baseball player" (Wikipedia).

Still Got Game Foundation
Kenny Lofton baseball statistics
FilmPool Inc
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Special thanks to Nathaniel Cameron and Jack Metcalfe

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“While serving as an Army platoon leader, [the Life Skills for Soldiers] Founder realized there are far too many soldiers who lack basic life skills causing additional stress and burden on themselves and their families. He began teaching a diverse set of everyday life topics including how to make a budget, how to start investing, and how to meal plan in the belief that doing so would help the individual and the unit. As a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we continue this work by arming military officers with the instructional tools needed to serve their soldiers.

The mission of Life Skills for Soldiers is to improve service-members' lives through life skills education. Our vision is to create a platform and leverage the train-the-trainer methodology to make it easy for all military leaders to teach their subordinates valuable life skills” (Life Skills For Soldiers).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Like Skills for Soldiers
Courses for service members
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Billy Hurley III graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he played golf before becoming a Surface Warfare Officer and professional golfer on the PGA Tour. Hurley speaks of the subtle differences between his good and bad times on the golf course and his lessons learned in his time in the Navy that transitioned to other areas of his life, his advice for a young person at the Naval Academy, and his foundation: “The Billy Hurley III Foundation was established to support, honor and benefit a vital group of unsung heroes: military families” (BillyHurley3.com).

“Billy grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, the oldest of four children. His father, Bill, introduced him to golf at a young age, and his mother, Cheryl, supported his growing passion by driving him to countless tournaments. During his senior year at Loudoun County High School, he was named to the all-state team and ranked third in Virginia.

After his naval service ended in 2009, Billy turned his focus to golf. He earned his place on the Web Dot Com Tour in 2011, finishing the season in 25th place and therefore winning his PGA Tour Card. He was the first Naval Academy graduate to achieve this milestone.

For the next 3 years Billy played in numerous events, finishing 5th at the Honda Classic, tied for 4th at the Greenbrier Classic, and qualifying for his first U.S. Open & Open Championship. He struggled during the 2015 season, ultimately losing his PGA Tour card. But he rebounded quickly in 2016 with a win at Quicken Loans National, a Tiger Woods-hosted tribute to military personnel. With that, Billy qualified for his first PGA and Masters Championships.

As of April 2017, Billy is the only U.S. Military veteran on the PGA Tour. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Heather and their three children Will, Jacob & Madison.

The Hurleys are involved with various charitable organizations, especially those focused on supporting military personnel & their families and those committed to improving the lives of children & young adults” (BillyHurley3.com).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Billy Hurley III Website and Foundation
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Retired Rear Admiral Tom Kearney speaks about his career path from Seaman Recruit to Vice Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the role of submarines in the Navy, his experience setting a submarine record, handling an emergency at sea, and leadership – both externally and internally of a group.

“Rear Adm. Thomas Kearney grew up in Dover, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Navy in 1978. He was commissioned via the Villanova University Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in political science (international relations) from Villanova University and is certified as a level III program manager from the Defense Acquisition University.

Prior to command, his sea tours included assignments as a division officer and Navigation Department head aboard USS New York City (SSN 696); engineer officer aboard USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655 Gold), and executive officer aboard USS Helena (SSN 725), where he conducted deployments and patrols to both the North Atlantic and Western Pacific.

Ashore he served as an NROTC instructor at Villanova University, executive officer/engineer officer of the Moored Training Ship (MTS) 635; squadron engineer, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 7; and as first commanding officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit USS Virginia (SSN 774).

Kearney commanded the USS Alexandria (SSN 757) from June 2003 to December 2005. During this period, his ship was awarded the Battle E for operational excellence; was runner up for the prestigious Battenberg Cup Award for top ship in the Atlantic Fleet; and received the Navy Unit Commendation for operations conducted during the first around the world deployment via the Arctic by a U.S. submarine.

Following command, Kearney entered the acquisition professional community in 2006 and served as the deputy director of the Navy’s Test and Evaluation Policy Office, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N912. He then served as the Foreign Military Sales Program manager in the Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404) and as deputy program manager in the Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401).

Kearney served as the program manager for Undersea Weapons and Targets from October 2009 to October 2012. During this period his program was awarded a Secretary of the Navy Excellence in Acquisition Award and he was the recipient of the 2011 Naval Submarine League’s Vice Admiral J. Guy Reynolds Award for Excellence in Submarine Acquisition. He served as vice commander, Naval Sea Systems Command from June 2013 to April 2014 when he established the Acquisition, Commonality and Expeditionary Warfare Directorate (SEA 06) as a new directorate within NAVSEA.

His awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), and various other personal, campaign and unit awards” (United States Navy).
Hosts: Nathaniel Cameron and Galen Odell
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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The great American and ambassador of baseball Mr. Tommy Lasorda shares insights from his established career with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the American Valor Podcast. Tommy preaches his passion for Dodgers baseball, the military and the United States of America.

Mr. Lasorda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 following his 20 years leading the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996, including 1,599 wins, four National League pennants and two World Series Championships, in 1981 and 1988.

Starting his professional baseball career in 1945, Lasorda left minor league baseball for two years to serve in the United States Army. Listeners will hear about the greatest moment from Mr. Lasorda's 70-plus years in baseball and be inspired by Mr. Lasorda's incredible passion for Bob Feller, the Dodgers and the United States of America.

This episode is in honor of the late Tommy Lasorda
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz, Nathaniel Cameron, and Colin Kirk
Editor: Jack Metcalfe
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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“At Project9line, our focus is to bridge the communication gap between Veterans and civilians. Through Outreach, Communication, and Purpose we enable veterans to express themselves uniquely through forms of art. 

There is not enough done to help our Veterans. Statistics show that twenty-two Veterans decide to take their own life every day. At Project9line, our goal is to make an impact on this alarming fact. Many of our Veterans return home from performing the ultimate duty of serving our country only to face hardship, depression, and substance abuse. Project9line encourages all Veterans to be the best they can be. Through our extensive resources and hands on team, we want to maximize the potential of each and every Veteran. Project9line strives to help Veterans create, reach, and surpass goals in order to form their own American Dream.

The name Project9line is derived from a very important U.S. Military protocol known as “9 line MEDVAC.” It is a procedure that has saved the lives of countless soldiers on the battlefield. The 9 Line MEDVAC guides call for help when there is a casualty on the battlefield. When placing a call, a soldier on the field must provide the 9 most important facts about the scenario so the most effective help can be sent. The process is uniform across all branches of service to ensure ease of communication. For many Veterans, a war within begins as soon as they arrive home. At Project9line we believe these Veterans need a 9 Line on the home front as well.

Patrick’s Story:

Patrick Donohue is a recently discharged combat Veteran. I served with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team “STRIKE” 101st Airborne Division. I was very lucky to end up in the unit I did. My duties varied throughout my service, but I guess the most important thing I did was that I was my Colonel’s assistant in combat. I wore many hats under this job description. I had the honor of meeting General Petraeus. We were deployed to Kandahar province Afghanistan during the bloodiest year on record for this conflict 2010-2011.

I got my college degree in 2004. I was a father, a husband, a homeowner, a small business owner, and had fulfilled my lifelong dream of becoming a stockbroker, but I still felt empty. So, I followed in my Father’s footsteps and I joined the Army. I really wanted to play my part in protecting our freedom. When I returned home, I realized how hard it was to readjust. All I could think of is how the other Veterans were dealing with reintegration. I started Project9line to help the Veterans become civilians again” (Project 9 Line).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Project 9 Line
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Ms. Katina Shaw serves as the Vice President of Community Relations for the Milwaukee Brewers. Shaw shares stories of the community engagement activities she leads on behalf of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball organization. She encourages students to seek out internships and mentors to help them to develop in their life and career. Ms. Shaw finds that living as an authentic leader is an important component in life and speaks of the value of baseball as a social institution. 

“Shaw joined the Brewers organization as a community relations assistant in 2006 after spending the previous seven years as market manager for the American Diabetes Association. She was promoted to community relations director in 2009 and named senior director in 2011.

Shaw [oversees] the Community Relations Department, working directly with players and coaches as the liaison between the front office and the community. As part of her role, Shaw is responsible for the creation and management of community programs such as the "Beyond the Diamond" outreach initiative, the coordination of activities and programs for Brewers Wives, and all alumni relations initiatives. She also plays a leadership role in the Brewers diversity and inclusion programs” (mlb.com, 2020).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk
Brewers Beyond the Diamond
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Mr. Jon Shestakofsky serves as the Vice President of Communications and Education at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Shestakofsky shares his background and pleasure in traveling from Minor League Baseball to World Series Championships in Major League Baseball to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. For Shestakofsky, it is all about the people and their stories. 

“A 2005 graduate of Wesleyan University and a native of Belmont, Mass., Shestakofsky [was] working his 13th year in baseball in 2016, having spent parts of the last 10 seasons with the Boston Red Sox beginning in 2007. In his most recent role with the Red Sox, Shestakofsky served as a liaison for media, players, and staff, and led all baseball information efforts. He also made significant contributions to publications ranging from game notes to media guide and the Red Sox magazine.

Shestakofsky began his baseball career with the Lowell Spinners in 2004 and has worked the last nine postseasons for the Red Sox and Major League Baseball. In his new role with the Hall of Fame, Shestakofsky will oversee the Museum’s communications, education, and outreach efforts” (Baseballhall.org, 2016).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz, Nathaniel Cameron, and Colin Kirk
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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Retired Navy Chief Bryan Exum shares the story of marrying during his Navy retirement ceremony and the challenges and rewards of representing over 70,000 sailors, Marines, Department of Navy personnel and family assigned to his global organization. Exum associates valor with courage and values: doing the right thing at all times and following the Navy’s core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment.

“Bryan Exum retired from the Navy after 33 years of service. His last assignment was the Command Master Chief for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) located in Washington, DC. While at NAVSEA, he led a team of active duty and retired military personnel that searched for, collected, and returned personal effects to over 3,000 people forced to evacuate a building during a high-profile tragic incident.

Bryan is a native of Chester, Pennsylvania and a 1983 graduate of Chester High School. He enlisted in January 1984 and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida. His challenging and rewarding tours included command master chief of Program Executive Office Ships, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Stout (DDG 55). Additionally, his sea assignments were aboard frigates, destroyers, and aircraft carriers. His shore assignments were in Puerto Rico; Great Lakes, Illinois; and multiple tours at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Bryan authored multiple articles in the Association of the United States Navy periodical as the National Vice President of Enlisted Affairs. He is a Lifetime Member of the Surface Navy Association, member of Fleet Reserve Association and on the selection panel for the annual nationally recognized Black Engineer of the Year Award.

Bryan attended the National Defense University’s Keystone course and Naval Postgraduate School Navy Senior Leader Seminar. He is a graduate of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University. He is married and has two daughters” (Association of the United States Navy).
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Nathaniel Cameron
Association of the United States Navy
Naval Sea Systems Command
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation

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