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AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

by Assn. of the United States Army · English · News

AUSA’s Army Matters podcast amplifies the voices of the Total Army – one story at a time. Join hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey every other Wednesday as they interview the modern chroniclers of the Army experience to discuss inspiring leadership stories, current issues face

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 38 min
Latest: 7 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026 · 58 min

USARPAC Stories of the Pacific: Part 1

The Stories of the Pacific episodes bring together seven Soldiers whose experiences reflect the depth, diversity and purpose of the U.S. Army in the Indo-Pacific, where the Army operates in a complex and rapidly changing environment. Our co-hosts sat down at AUSA’s LANPAC event in Hawaii back in May to meet incredible leaders in the U.S. Army Pacific Command, from junior enlisted to more senior levels. Their voices represent the Total Army and provide an authentic look at service in one of the most important regions in the world. In the first of two episodes, they speak with SFC Sarah Nelms,…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E350 · 23 Sep 2026 · 37 min
Spurs, Service, and Sacrifice
The Army teaches Soldiers how to fight, lead and endure. But what happens when the mission ends, and the weight of service remains? In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Major Jake Kelly, an Armor Officer, Army Strategist and author of The Spurs of Service, a collection of poetry inspired by military service, loss, leadership and healing. After losing a fellow Soldier to suicide, and losing two close friends in the Army as well, all in the same year, Kelly spent a long time carrying a grief that he struggled to explain, even to the…
E349 · 9 Sep 2026 · 45 min
Tunnel to Towers: 25 Years of Turning Loss into Hope
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Stephen Siller had just completed a night shift with New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Squad 1. He was driving home to play golf with his brothers when he heard over his radio that America was under attack. He turned his truck around. When he reached the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it had been closed. So, Stephen strapped on nearly sixty pounds of firefighting gear and ran through the tunnel toward the Twin Towers. He was never seen alive again. In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Frank Siller,…
E348 · 26 Aug 2026 · 37 min
The Failure Resume
Leadership shaped by...failure? In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with COL Chaveso “Chevy” Cook, PhD, a career Army officer whose path has spanned tactical leadership, Psychological Operations, strategic communications, speechwriting for the Secretary of the Army, and serving on the West Point faculty—and on the Joint Staff. Growing up in a difficult neighborhood, Cook’s future changed because one woman—his adoptive mother—insisted that education would be his way forward. That conversation ultimately led him to West Point and began a…
E347 · 12 Aug 2026 · 38 min
From Flint to Influence
In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Curtez Riggs, a retired First Sergeant, entrepreneur, and founder of the Military Influencer Conference. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Riggs watched the economic foundation of his community disappear almost overnight as manufacturing jobs vanished. With few opportunities available, he chose the Army—not simply as a career, but as a chance to build a better future. Today, Riggs shares how his childhood and Army experiences led him to create one of the military community’s largest networks,…
E346 · 29 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Becoming the Leader You Didn’t Expect to Be
Not every Soldier grows up planning to serve. In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith sits down with Cadet Orion Van Buskirk, a junior—otherwise known as a “Cow”—at the United States Military Academy at West Point, to explore what it means to discover service along the way. Raised in Eugene, Oregon, with no military background, Van Buskirk initially saw West Point as an opportunity for a free education, a challenge and a different path from his peers. But what began as a practical decision evolved into something deeper. In this conversation, Van Buskirk reflects candidly on…
E345 · 15 Jul 2026 · 41 min
A Green Beret Finds Unexpected Purpose in Ukraine
For many veterans, the end of military service raises a difficult question: Who am I now? In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with retired Green Beret Ryan Hendrickson. After eight deployments to Afghanistan and surviving a life-changing blast from an improvised explosive device, Hendrickson retired, and then later returned overseas as a contractor. But, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, he found himself confronting something many veterans struggle with: loss of identity and loss of mission. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.…
E344 · 1 Jul 2026 · 46 min
The Army Ten-Miler: Beyond the Finish Line
Running the Army Ten-Miler is a Washington, D.C. tradition bringing together the military and civilians, including wounded warriors and wheelchair athletes, since 1985. It is a proud example of how the Army promotes wellness throughout the community—long after the final runner crosses the finish line. In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Maya Johnson, Deputy Director of the Army Ten-Miler and a longtime Army Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) professional. Originally from Bosnia, Johnson experienced war firsthand before…
E343 · 17 Jun 2026 · 26 min
Leadership before D-Day: Pressure–With Director Anthony Maras
History often remembers the invasion: the beaches, the Soldiers, and the first waves crashing ashore on D-Day. But in the days before Allied forces reached Normandy, another battle was unfolding behind closed doors. A battle of judgment, uncertainty, and leadership under immense pressure. In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith sits down with filmmaker Anthony Maras, director, co-writer, editor, and producer of Pressure, now in theaters. This historical thriller focuses on the 72 tense hours before D-Day and the difficult decisions that faced General Dwight D. Eisenhower and…
E342 · 3 Jun 2026 · 38 min
The Sound of a Nation: The Washington Tattoo Story
In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith sits down with SGM (Ret.) Mark Reilly, founder of The Washington Tattoo, a large-scale musical production designed to be a unifying voice at the intersection of music, history, and national identity. What began as a vision to create world-class performances has grown into a platform that supports servicemembers, veterans, first responders, and their families—particularly those facing the effects of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Reilly shares how his background with the Army’s Old Guard shaped The Washington Tattoo,…
E341 · 20 May 2026 · 51 min
Triage to Three Stars: 25 Years Since 9/11
In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with LTG (Ret.) Patricia Horoho to reflect on her experience responding firsthand to the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11 and the leadership that emerged in those first critical moments. 2026 marks 25 years since the attack, and her heroism will be remembered during the National Memorial Day Concert held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in D.C. on Sunday, May 24th. Trained in trauma nursing and mass casualty response, Patty Horoho reflects on her 33 years of service—from nearly leaving the Army, to…
E340 · 6 May 2026 · 37 min
Soldier, Scientist, Innovator
In this episode of Army Matters, LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with LTC Armand Balboni, a U.S. Army officer whose career spans military service, biomedical science, law, academia and executive leadership in the private sector. Balboni’s journey did not begin with certainty. Told early on that he was not college material; he enlisted in the Coast Guard after high school—an experience that would ultimately give him the confidence to pursue higher education, earning an MD, PhD and a law degree. He held a successful civilian career as an innovator in medicine, but in…
E339 · 22 Apr 2026 · 42 min
Not a Straight Line: From Cadet to Commander
In this episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with BG Maurice “Moe” Barnett, Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command. From growing up in Gary, Indiana, to leading the Army’s largest commissioning source, BG Barnett reflects on the mentors, missteps, and moments that shaped his 31-year journey. He speaks candidly about nearly leaving the Army after his initial obligation, the life-changing impact of battery command, and the lessons learned from both hard corrections and compassionate leadership. Barnett challenges young Soldiers and…
E338 · 8 Apr 2026 · 45 min
Hope After the Fire: Sgt. Rick Yarosh on Resilience and Service
Sgt. (Ret.) Rick Yarosh travels the country with Sweethearts & Heroes, speaking primarily to students about hope, empathy, resilience, and the idea that none of us succeed alone. He now describes the tragedy that brought him this wisdom as “the best thing that ever happened” to him. In this episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Sgt. Rick Yarosh, a retired U.S. Army cavalry scout, Purple Heart recipient, nationally recognized speaker, and author. Deployed to Iraq in 2005, Yarosh was serving near the Abu Ghraib prison when his Bradley…
E337 · 25 Mar 2026 · 41 min
Beyond the Medal: Clint Romesha on Leadership Under Fire
Heroism is often remembered in a single moment, but for those who live it, the story does not end when the shooting stops. Leadership, responsibility, and accountability start long before, and continue long after the battle is over. In this episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Clint Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Battle of Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan. Drawing from a career shaped by family service, mentorship, and combat leadership, Romesha reflects on what prepared him…
E336 · 11 Mar 2026 · 32 min
Talent, Mobility, and the Force Behind the Force
When it comes to readiness, the careers of Army spouses are sometimes overlooked, but the balance required to maintain economic stability and quality of life within the family is often tested through frequent moves, disrupted careers and hard choices made quietly in the background. In this episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Elizabeth O’Brien and Josh Fugate to share how Hiring Our Heroes is moving the ball forward for military spouses in their work lives. Liz is a military spouse, former college basketball coach and senior leader at…
E335 · 25 Feb 2026 · 34 min
The Price of Freedom: Service After Loss
The military does many things with precision and honor, but for families left behind, the hardest journey often begins after the ceremony ends. Grief does not follow a timeline, and loss does not end with the rifle volley as the final notes of “Taps” play. In this deeply personal episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with two nationally recognized advocates for military survivors: Maj. (Ret.) Bonnie Carroll, U.S. Air Force, and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Jennie Taylor, Gold Star spouse, mother of…
E334 · 11 Feb 2026 · 39 min
Redefining Tech for the Future Fight: A General's New Mission
The character of war is changing, but its human stakes are not. Speed, software, autonomy, and long-range systems now shape the battlefield, yet every decision still carries life-or-death consequences for Soldiers on the ground. LTG (Ret.) Neil Thurgood’s background has prepared him to help guide thinking on the Army's adaptation without losing the values that define it. How can technology actually serve those who fight? In this episode of Army Matters, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with LTG (Ret.) Thurgood, whose career spans enlisted infantry service,…
E333 · 28 Jan 2026 · 31 min
Scoring Touchdowns for Soldiers’ Health
Officers and Soldiers of all ranks perform daily physical tasks that rival—if not surpass—those of some of the world’s top athletes, thanks to the Army’s world-class training and health programs. And who does the Army like to partner with to strengthen and innovate its own training methods? Professional sports teams and their staffs, often creating world-class programs in parallel. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Brett Fischer, the Director of Player Health and Performance for the Detroit Lions, to discuss how his blue-collar upbringing led to his…
E332 · 14 Jan 2026 · 33 min
East is Up for the U.S. Army in Korea
With its proximity to China, Russia, and—obviously—North Korea, the United States Forces Korea command is growing in importance by the minute. Leading this force—as well as the United Nations Command and the Combined Forces Command—is highly-regarded GEN Xavier T. Brunson, who brings not only his 35 years of Army experience to the table, but also a vast family history in leadership. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with GEN Brunson to discuss the latest developments in the region, how the Army has truly been a family affair for three generations of his…
E331 · 31 Dec 2025 · 38 min
Developing a Sweet Tooth for Business
In 2014, a military spouse and a priest—both avid bakers—wanted to create a fun, welcoming place that could help out transitioning veterans. They started Dog Tag Bakery, a Washington café that not only serves coffee and treats but also hosts a business incubator program. Over the last decade, the organization has assisted almost four hundred veterans and military spouses in their startup companies, creating employment—and high spirits—across the country. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Dog Tag’s Director of Programs and Community Impact, Maureen…
E330 · 17 Dec 2025 · 28 min
A Silent Night in WWII: A Special Christmas Story
On Christmas Eve, 1944, Elizabeth Vincken and her twelve-year-old son, Fritz, sat down for a quiet Christmas Eve dinner, hopeful for a respite in the midst of deadly battles in the northern Belgian forest. Knocks on their door quickly turned their evening into a series of dramatic moments and standoffs, but Elizabeth’s bravery and compassion led to one of the most heart-filled – and unheard – stories of World War II. In this very special holiday episode, Army Matters senior producer Carrie Varouhakis and Army historian and writer Kevin Hymel unearth this story of a mother, a son, weary…
E329 · 3 Dec 2025 · 43 min
Love and Marriage… and Entrepreneurship
As they helped Afghanistan refugees during the sudden withdrawal of American troops from the country in 2021, social entrepreneur Alex McLeod and her husband, MAJ Jay Long, realized they wanted to create a better system for these new immigrants to fund their small businesses. They created Parlay Protocol, an AI-aided, veteran-built financial platform that makes it easier for banks to approve small business loans. It’s just one of many startups for this Army couple, who have a great track record of success as entrepreneurs – and in their marriage. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA…
E328 · 19 Nov 2025 · 32 min
Helping Veterans Byte Digital Bullets
In 2013, a mother and her son decided to collect some used PCs and Macs and donate them to military veterans so they could learn valuable digital skills. Tech For Troops was born! In the more-than-twelve years since then, under the direction of President Mark Casper, the organization has ballooned in size and has helped thousands of veterans gain necessary skills for the digital world. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Marine Corps Veteran Mark Casper and Army Veteran Jason “Game Master” Parker to discuss some of the innovative things Tech For Troops is…
E327 · 5 Nov 2025 · 41 min
Charting a (Running) Path to Help Fellow Veterans
As LTC Mike Erwin retired from active duty in 2010, he discovered a large number of fellow veterans who were longing for a community. And so, eager to provide a solution, he created Team Red, White & Blue (TeamRWB) to fill that void. Over the last fifteen years, this organization has put together over fifteen thousand events—everything from fun runs to chess meets—and has connected over a quarter-million veterans. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with LTC (Ret.) Erwin, as well as TeamRWB’s incoming Executive Director, COL (Ret.) Mike “Sully” Sullivan to…
E326 · 22 Oct 2025 · 43 min
The One -Time Ballerina Who Became a Ranger
For decades, Soldiers in the Army Ranger School were only men, most of them in their 20s. But in 2015, then-MAJ Lisa Jaster set out to change that, and became one of the first three women, and the first female Reserve officer, ever to graduate Ranger School. For her, it was one of many accomplishments in a distinguished life of service, ranging from her time at West Point to her award-winning fitness career and her stint as an author. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with COL Jaster to discuss the highlights of her time with the Army, hear about a Ranger…
E325 · 8 Oct 2025 · 42 min
How to Turn Pain into Purpose
In April 2003, CPL J.R. Martinez’s Humvee ran over a roadside bomb in Iraq, and he was trapped in the burning vehicle for over five minutes. When he got out, he had burns on 34 percent of his body. Three years in the hospital and thirty-four surgeries later, he was better physically, but his most important accomplishment during that time was finding hope. That allowed him to forge ahead with an incredible life. He became a successful actor, a Dancing with the Stars champion, a best-selling author and a motivational speaker. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down…
E324 · 24 Sep 2025 · 35 min
How an Iron Man Leads His Troops
In August 2024, LTG Brian Eifler stepped into the role of Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel of the Army. Drawing on 33 years of experience leading Soldiers, he has quickly launched initiatives to dramatically improve the lives of our fighting force. Join hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey as they sit down with LTG Eifler to unpack the key lessons of his storied Army career, the critical focus areas of Soldier life he's tackling now, and the hilarious story of how he once forced a host to compete in a grueling Korean triathlon years ago. Guest: LTG Brian S. Eifler,…
E323 · 10 Sep 2025 · 36 min
Why Is This EOD Captain So Happy?
When he originally enlisted in the Army, now-CPT Michael Villahermosa not only didn’t even consider becoming an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Soldier—he didn’t even know what it was. But he quickly realized he had the right skills to succeed at it, and has become a leading EOD commander, instructor, and now social media influencer (under the name “EOD Happy Captain”). Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with CPT Villahermosa to discuss the life and community of EOD Soldiers, how his social media prowess has helped out his fellow Soldiers, and how a gift of…
E322 · 27 Aug 2025 · 25 min
Encore Episode: What Do Batman and Ruben Rivers Have in Common?
Comic book writer Chuck Dixon has written more issues of comic books than any other living writer today, most notably telling the stories of superheroes Batman, Robin, The Punisher and John Rambo. But his work on AUSA’s Medal of Honor comic series has allowed him to bring historical heroes to life to incredible effect. In this very special encore episode, hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with Dixon to discuss his 2024 comic Medal of Honor: Ruben Rivers, how a comic book is actually created, and they agree that a visit from the taxman can be the best form of…

About AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast is a English news podcast from Assn. of the United States Army. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Assn. of the United States Army
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 38 min
Latest episode: 7 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1450415116

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