Proud American

Proud Americans make this country and the people around them better with their actions and dedicated service. Karen Worcester is the co-founder and Executive Director of Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit dedicated to remembering our fallen, honoring those who serve and teaching the next generation about value of freedom. Karen and her husband Morrill have taken a quiet idea for a solemn purpose and inspired millions of Americans to honor those who have given their lives with their beautiful wreaths. She joins the podcast today.

National Wreaths Across America Day is December 18, 2021. If you’d like to learn more about the organization, donate, or see how you can become a volunteer go to WreathsAcrossAmerica.org!

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Most people aspire to do one exceptional thing that inspires others and makes a difference. For some that means charity work, for others public service or military service, and for many of us its simply having a family and raising kids. For Army veteran Amber Smith, she has excelled in all the above as one of the few female pilots to fly the KIOWA armed reconnaissance helicopter on combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, a TV analyst and trusted voice for national security, and most recently she served in multiple positions with the Department of Defense for the Trump Administration. She joins the podcast today.

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Who doesn't love good music that tells good stories? For many, that’s country music. But music is more than the background noise to a good time. It inspires us to dream about tomorrow and reminisce of yesterday. It connects us on a shared emotion or lifestyle, the music we love doesn’t just tell a story - it tells our story. Granger Smith is a country music star, but he's also so much more. His Yee-Yee brand and its leading persona Earl Dibbles Jr. reaches our most recent generation of adult Americans with a positive message through humor and shared hardships. Granger joins the podcast today.

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From the battlefield to the newsroom, veterans in mainstream media are rare and important. Proud Americans believe in freedom, fight to protect it and exercise their own rights with respect and courage. Pete Hegseth is arguably one of the largest veterans voices in television news, and a necessary perspective when it comes to questioning decisions made that affect our military and their families.

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Proud Americans like you and I come from all walks of life, and our guests are no different. From regular folks doing extraordinary things, to celebrities who’ve put time into making this country a better place for all of us, Proud Americans are worth celebrating. And today’s guest is no different. Mark Zinno is the host of the Hazard Ground Podcast where war heroes share their stories of combat and survival, as well as a sports talk radio host and a Lt. Col. in the United States Army National Guard with two tours to Iraq.

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Last year we introduced you to a Proud American named Emily Domenech, who used her smartphone and patriotic spirit to bring the headstones of our heroes to their friends and family on Memorial Day, when COVID-19 restrictions prevented them from visiting Arlington National Cemetery in person. This year, Emily has teamed up with Ryan Manion of the Travis Manion Foundation for a collaboration called "The Honor Project." Emily and Ryan join the podcast to share more information about this special project, including how you can get involved.

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From Homer’s Odysseus to Wilfred Owen, the idea of a warrior poet has captured our attention for generations. For a man or woman to go from the brutality of combat to the vulnerable expression of creating art may seem odd or unnatural, but for many of us, whether it be making something with our hands or writing how we feel in words, self expression and vulnerability are a necessary part of healing our minds after war and injury. Richard Casper is a Marine Corps veteran, Proud American, and founder of CreatiVets, a Nashville based program that brings veterans opportunities to find healing through artistic exercises such as sculpting, painting and even songwriting with some of music’s biggest names.

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Politics has become perhaps the most intense team sport in our country today. Differing political views often divide people, but in the case of today’s podcast guest, having conversations about politics has brought an important friendship into my life with documentary film maker, Gotham Chopra. Growing up in Boston he became an avid sports fan, and after starting his career with Channel One News covering the war in the Middle East, he became one of the most highly regarded sports documentary film makers in the country. With films focusing on stars like the late great Kobe Bryant, and his close friend Tom Brady, Gotham has made a career out of reminding Americans that sports truly are a way to celebrate this country and the incredible stories behind the athletes we love to cheer on.

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Often in life we meet people who just don’t stop. They don’t stop at the first sign of adversity, they don’t stop achieving goals, they don’t stop trying new things, and perhaps most importantly they don’t stop inspiring others. These people aren’t as rare as you think, but those who use this passion for life to become elite are. Christmas Abbott is one of those people. If you’re a fan of the CrossFit games, NASCAR, reality TV or fitness and nutrition, you’ve probably heard of her. But before even all of that she was working alongside our military heroes in Baghdad, Iraq and then with veteran nonprofits. Christmas truly embodies the Proud American spirit.

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This time of year is a special time for many all over the world. Parents, guardians, grandparents, loved ones, etc. work tirelessly to make the holiday season feel special for children, and presents are only one part of that. Good food, time with family, traditions old and new, and the opportunity to appreciate the life we have really makes this season come to life. In this episode of the Proud American podcast, Marine Corps Veteran and host Johnny Joey Jones introduces us to twin sisters, owners & co-CEO's of "Elf on the Shelf," Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts, who have used their creativity to bring a little extra Christmas spirit to families all over the country with the help of their friend Scout. In a year like the one we've had, it's important to take a moment to be thankful for the good things in our lives, and the passion and love for Christmas shared by Chanda and Christa helps make this season extra special!

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