Tango Alpha Lima Podcast

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.

Our list of Top 6 most impactful guests of Season 6 would not be complete without American Folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier, who talks about her addiction recovery, mental health journey and how she uses songwriting to help veterans with PTSD. She works with veterans on their healing through songwriting with SongwritingWith:Soldiers.

“What I try to emphasize is that this can be of service to other people — a lifeline actually, which it often is.”

First up in our Top 6 most impactful guests from 2025, renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns talks about his new documentary film on the American Revolution, his Vietnam War documentary series, his path to a career in movies and more. He has created a legendary catalog of documentary movies including “The Vietnam War,” “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The War,” “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea;” and more.

His films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including 17 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. Other topics include the impact of funding cuts on PBS and NPR, what Reddit is saying about watching documentaries by Burns and more.

 Get a sneak peek at “Sheepdog,” an uplifting, award-winning movie, inspired by countless first-hand accounts from veterans about recovery, redemption and the journey of healing.

Writer, director and actor Steven Grayhm and Emmy-winning actor Vondie Curtis Hall, who also stars in the film, are the guests in this episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

Grayhm talks about interviews with veterans from the Vietnam War, Global War on Terrorism, OIF and OEF, and others that serve as the basis for this uplifting movie that highlights Post Traumatic Growth.

Also in this episode, a record $23.3 billion in VA claims benefits, Buddy Checks for the Army during the holiday season, and more.

SHOW LINKS

EP287 - Doug Evans The Sprouts Guy

Fuel the Fight - Fund the Mission

Bart Womack - Tango 271

Sheepdog the Movie Website

Vet Tix

Join the USA250 Challenge

American Legion Be the One

Buddy Checks

Army leaders ordered to check in daily with soldiers over the holidays

Record year for American Legion Service Officers

Find a Service Officer

Support Service Officers and Military Families

Marine Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. Borgschulte, who played football for Navy, talks about about coming full circle in Annapolis - from attending as a midshipman to leading as the the United States Naval Academy Superintendent.

2026 Miss America Cassie Donegan joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. Donegan talks about how her life has been shaped by her father's experience as a 100% disabled Navy veteran and how she found resilience through participation in youth arts and theater programs.

Retired U.S. Special Forces Col. Michael "Sully" Sullivan served 30 years in the US Army, including 23 as a Green Beret. He is now Executive Director of Team RWB. Zachary Polega is a West Point graduate and former Infantry Officer who has overcome injuries from a grenade explosion during a special ops mission and joined 11 other RWB members for the 2026 Old Glory Relay. Zach and Sully joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA to share their experiences in military service and how they have translated that into a mission of health and wellness for veterans.

The Army-Navy Game is more than just a football game; it’s a celebration of camaraderie, tradition and the indomitable spirit of service. USAA SVP and West Point graduate Rob Bragg and USAA SVP and Naval Academy graduate Bill White joined American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. They talked about the passionate rivalry and shared values of these two esteemed military academies.

Actor Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and and former long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks, joins American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA. The founder of MVP, Boyer shares his unique insights on leadership, discipline and the importance of service. With experiences that span both the military and professional sports, Boyer illustrates how foundational values shared in these worlds can inspire individuals to excel, and explains why organizations that help veterans find their tribe - like Merging Vets and Players and The American Legion are critical for mental wellbeing.