Celebrity Salute

We welcome retired Lt. Col. Scott Mann, who served as a Green Beret. He has taken his experience in the Special Forces and written books, given TedTalks, and most recently has written a play called “Last Out” produced by the incredible Gary Sinise. Randy and Scott talk about his experience in the military, his connection to Gary Sinise, and the incredible people and circumstances that inspired the stage play “Last Out.”

We welcome both the star and director of Netflix’s new hit "Extraction 2," Chris Hemsworth and Sam Hargrave, to the show to talk about the highly anticipated sequel now streaming on Netflix. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Tyler Rake, and from the snippets we’ve already seen, you’re going to want to buckle up for this non-stop action film. Randy discusses with Chris and Sam the making of the film and much more in this great segment.

This week we welcome CBS Evening News Chief Investigative Correspondent, Jim Axelrod, to the show to discuss a troubling topic. CBS News' investigative unit’s “Dishonored” series highlights stories of veterans and servicemembers who have been jailed or denied an honorable discharge due to their sexual orientation. Jim has worked at CBS for nearly three decades, and he shares the stunning details surrounding a soldier who faced the possibility of 17 years in military prison; simply for being homosexual.

We welcome Anchor of CBS Evening News, Norah O’Donnell, to the podcast. She shares the struggle facing military spouses when it comes to transferring occupational licenses and the adverse impact of the government’s red tape on their quality of life and employment opportunities. Every time a service member’s assignment changes, military spouses must get a new license in their new home state, leaving many military spouses unemployed for months at a time when they’re forced to move with their families.

Gary Sinise joins the podcast to talk with Randy about all the great work he’s been doing on and off the set; especially when it comes to supporting members of our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. Randy and Gary discuss the history of the Gary Sinise Foundation, it’s role in expanding the incredible Snowball Express program at Walt Disney World, and his annual appearance with Joe Mantegna and friends on the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS.

We welcome the legendary Hollywood actor Jon Voight to the podcast to talk about his long-running career in Hollywood. We chat about his new film, Mercy, in select theatres now, digitally May 19th, and On Demand in early June. Mercy tells the the story of an ex-military doctor that finds herself in a deadly battle for survival when the Irsih mafia seize control of a hospital where she works. The film co-stars Leah Gibson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and we can’t wait to see it.

We welcome a true American hero, Major James Capers. We discuss his HIGHLY decorated time serving in the United State Marine Corps along with the director of a new biopic illustrating his life: Ashley Cusato. "Major Capers: The Legend of Team Broadminded", is an honest and unflinching documentary that portrays the extraordinary true life story of Major James Capers, Jr., an American hero, who persevered through adversity during a time of civil unrest.

We welcome one of our favorite comedic actresses, Vicki Lawrence, to the show. We talk about her legendary acting career, her multiple trips to support our troops in Vietnam, and her one woman show where she has been able to reconnect with veterans. Randy and Vicki also talk about “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” and her upcoming special “90 Years of Laughter + Love” and much more in this segment.

We welcome the legendary singer/songwriter Pat Boone to the program to discuss his nearly seven decades of making music around the world. Pat has performed music from nearly every imaginable genre, and performed for people from nearly every stripe of life. Pat and Randy get down to the important topics in this episode, including an in-depth look in what exactly a “grit” is.

We are joined by Amanda Huffman, a veteran and military spouse. Amanda was deployed with the Army to Afghanistan and was awarded a Bronze Star amongst other honors. She traded in her combat boots in 2013 to be a stay-at-home mom and to follow her husband’s military career. She now hosts the Women in the Military podcast and we’re honored to have her on our podcast to discuss important topics affecting women, both in the service, and as military spouses.