Mission: Readiness Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mission: Readiness
The 750 retired admirals, generals, and other top military leaders who are members of Mission: Readiness recognize that the strength of our country depends on a strong military. Since 2009, Mission: Readiness has championed evidence-based, bipartisan state and federal public policy solutions that are proven to prepare our youth for life and to be able to serve their nation in any way they choose.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, speaks with Sally Sampson, Founder of ChopChop Family. Together they talk about the importance of nutrition and ways in which Sally’s company is making cooking fun for kids and their families.
Visit the ChopChop website, www.chopchopfamily.org, to learn more and discover great recipes!
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Major General Johnny Davis, Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). Listen as they discuss General Davis’ career and what USAREC is doing to address the military recruitment crisis.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by General (Ret.) Larry O. Spencer, U.S. Air Force. General Spencer shares his journey “from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon” through incredible stories of his family and childhood, his chance meeting with an Air Force recruiter, and many other insights into his career from enlisted to four-star general.
After listening to this episode, you’ll definitely want to read General Spencer’s book, Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, welcomes Lieutenant Colonel (Dr.) Bryant Webber, U.S. Air Force. Dr. Webber has spent several years working with the CDC Department of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) studying Body Mass Index (BMI) and physical activity for military-aged members of the U.S. population. Listen in to learn more about his important research.
Show notes:
- Dr. Webber’s published study- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379722004238
- Unfit to Serve infographic- https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/downloads/unfit-to-serve-062322-508.pdf
- CDC Physical Activity webpage- https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, talks with Cindy Long, Administrator of USDA Food and Nutrition Service. They talk about how the pandemic highlighted the importance of school nutrition and what the USDA is doing to improve the systems we currently have. Take a listen!
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, welcomes Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian back to the podcast. Since we last spoke to Dary, he’s remained busy with multiple projects, including advising the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Listen as they discuss the importance of nutrition policy and the role of food as medicine in our daily lives.
Additional Resources:
- The Report of the Task Force for Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
- The Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
- Food Compass
- Life’s Essential 8
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Fernandez “Frank” Ponds, U.S. Navy. Take a listen as Admiral Ponds walks us through his journey joining the Navy, and the reason behind his passion advocating for kids.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by the new Mission: Readiness National Director, Edgar Rodriguez. Listen as they discuss Edgar’s background and upcoming opportunities for Mission: Readiness members.
If you’d like to reach out to Edgar, email him at erodriguez@missionreadiness.org.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Executive Director of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Andy Lennon, U.S. Navy. Together, they talk about how the Sea Cadets is preparing youth for successful futures in and out of military service.
To learn more about the Sea Cadets, visit https://www.seacadets.org.
To learn more about the Navy Mile on October 16, 2022, visit https://thenavymile.com.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Dr. Dan Bornstein. Dan is a health and exercise scientist and Chair of the newly established Military Sector of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan. Dan has devoted his career to ensuring nilitary readiness through physical activity.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross chats with the new Georgia State director for Council for a Strong America, Graham Younger. As the Georgia State Director for CSA, Graham will be working closely with Mission: Readiness members as well as members of our sibling organizations. Graham tells us about his background and his vision for our work in Georgia.
In this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross speaks with Brigadier General (Ret.) Sandra Alvey, USA, about her unique medical background and career in the Reserves. General Alvey is a member of Mission: Readiness' Nutrition and National Security Speakers Bureau, and speaks to the important connection between nutrition and what she has learned as a medical entomologist.
Virginia Nutrition & Food Security Event: https://bit.ly/39lGPP0
General Alvey's Op-Ed: https://bit.ly/3xM99U8
This week on the podcast, General Gross speaks with longtime Kentucky Mission: Readiness member Major General (Ret.) Michael Davidson, U.S. Army. General Davidson discusses the importance of reducing childhood food insecurity through the SNAP and WIC programs and recaps a recent virtual event he participated in with Kentucky nutrition experts. He also talks about books he has authored, and provides a preview of his upcoming book.
Today on the podcast, you can listen to a recording from a virtual event that took place on March 23, 2022. This event focused on the link between nutrition and food security in Georgia and national security. Mission: Readiness member Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Ponds, U.S. Navy, led the discussion. He was joined by experts on child nutrition, food security, and food waste reduction in Georgia. You can learn more about the event by clicking here.
This week, GeneralGross welcomes back Major General Kevin Vereen, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). MG Vereen discusses the importance of the Army’s recruiting efforts, how recruiting has been impacted by COVID-19, and USAREC recruiting efforts for 2022 coming out of the pandemic.
This week, General Gross talks with Barry Ford, the President and CEO of Mission: Readiness' parent organization, Council for a Strong America. Barry shares details about his upbringing, his career path, and his passion for our mission. He also looks ahead to what's in store for Mission: Readiness and our sibling organizations at Council for a Strong America.
This week, General Gross chats with Patti Montague, the CEO of the School Nutrition Association, representing more than 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Patti shares about SNA's work supporting school nutrition professionals, the programs SNA offers, and how SNA's members have responded to COVID-19.
Prior to the conversation, John chats with Jake Ferreira, who recently became Mission: Readiness' Interim National Director. They discuss Jake's new role, his background, and his recent deployment with the Coast Guard.
Today on the podcast, you can listen to a recording from a virtual event that took place on December 2, 2021. This event focused on the link between nutrition and food security in Arkansas and national security. Mission: Readiness members Major General (Ret.) Bill Wofford, USA, and Brigadier General (Ret.) Gary Profit, USA, participated in the roundtable discussion. They were joined by experts on child nutrition, food security, and food waste reduction in Arkansas.
This week, General Gross chats with National Director Ben Goodman, who is saying goodbye to Mission: Readiness for a new opportunity in his home state of Maine. They discuss Ben's time at Mission: Readiness, why he was motivated to work on early childhood nutrition issues, the progress he's seen on early childhood and nutrition policy during his tenure, and special memories he's gained over the years.
This year saw two symbolic events for the United States: withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. As we end the year, General Gross looks back on these milestones with three Mission: Readiness members with unique service experiences in the Post-9/11 era: Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Bradley, USAF; Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond, USA; and Brigadier General (Ret.) Dana Born, USAF. The panel shares perspective on their experience, how the world has changed, and how each continues to serve in retirement.
For more on the Lamia Afghan Foundation, visit Lamia.org.
For more on Home Base, visit HomeBase.org.
This week on the podcast, General Gross chats with Alex Nichols-Vinueza, Program Manager for Food Loss and Waste at the World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading conservation organization. Alex shares about the causes and impact of food waste, WWF's global efforts to address food waste, their partnerships with schools, and how each of us can address food waste in our own lives. To learn more about WWF's efforts, click here.
This week, General Gross chats with Fred Espinosa, Interim Director of Food and Nutrition Servicesfor theSan Diego Unified School District. Espinosa discusses his work leading the effort to serve hundreds of thousands of students, the innovative ways the District provides students fresh and nutritious options, their food waste elimination tactics, and the challenges posed by COVID-19 and how he and his team have addressed them.
In a special edition of the podcast, the Mission: Readiness team joins with Council for a Strong America's Chief Research Officer Dr. Sandra Bishop to discuss the current child care crisis. Staff also discusses the status of child care provisions in the "Build Back Better Act" currently being considered by Congress.
This week on the podcast, Megan talks with Indiana Mission: Readiness Brigadier General (Ret.) Jim Bauerle, U.S. Army. He discusses the many issues he has advocated for at the Indiana General Assembly, including a Tobacco 21 effort in conjunction with Mission: Readiness. He also talks about his recent work advocating for hyperbaric oxygen treatment for veterans and other individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
Show Notes:
Mission: Readiness Indiana Tobacco 21 Letter
Press Release + Report from the TreatNOW Coalition
On today's episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross talks with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tom Spoehr, USA about his new report, Improving America’s Long-Term Military Recruiting Outlook, which provides an in-depth military recruiting analysis and spotlights worrisome trends pertaining to demographics, retention, and propensity to serve. General Spoehr and General Gross also discuss the role of civics and the value of modeling good behavior for our nation's youth.
Today on the Mission: Readiness Podcast, Major General (Ret.) Doug Raaberg, USAF and National Director Ben Goodman dive into General Raaberg's first-hand experience eating in a West Virginia middle school cafeteria. General Raaberg illustrates what that farm-to-school lunch looked like and the vital role schools play in providing nutritious meals to kids.
General Raaberg also highlights his work as the Executive Vice President at the Air Force Association – featuring their innovative program, CyberPatriot – as well as his world record for the fastest nonstop flight around the globe with his B-1B bomber crew, which included Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah's Second Congressional District.
To learn more about the Air Force Association's work, go to afa.org and follow them on Twitter at @AirForceAssoc.
This week on the podcast, General Gross interviews Dr. Aly Goodman, M.D., M.P.H. She is a board-certified pediatrician, medical epidemiologist in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, & Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Commander Goodman discusses the CDC's recent study that shows childhood obesity increased during the pandemic, and possible strategies to address this trend.
Later, Megan talks to Council for a Strong America colleagues Michael Harlow, Ohio State Director, and Kim Russell, Maine State Director. Michael and Kim share updates on recent policy victories and events in their states, and discuss efforts to improve the distribution of healthy meals to children in Ohio and Maine.
Show Notes:
CDC/Mission: Readiness Graphic
CDC study on childhood obesity during COVID-19 pandemic
Mission: Readiness statement on the CDC study
CDC childhood obesity webpage
CSA Maine page
CSA Ohio page
General Gross speaks with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling about his distinguished service, including as the first commander of the United States Army Center for Initial Military Training from 2009 to 2011. Hertling shares his firsthand account of how Basic Training needed to be overhauled to properly train new recruits impacted by a societal shift toward poor nutrition and inactivity. Hertling reflects on his service in the military, as a presidential appointee, and in the private sector, and details the national security importance of preparing all Americans for healthy lives.
On this week’s episode of the podcast, General Gross chats with Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at UConn. Dr. Schwartz talks about the Center’s research work on nutrition and early childhood development, how child nutrition has changed in recent years, and her work on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Food Bank.
This week on the podcast, Admiral Besal interviews Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08). Congresswoman Schrier is the first pediatrician to serve in Congress. They discuss the importance of establishing healthy habits early in childrens' lives and legislation the Congresswoman supports to address childhood hunger and malnutrition. They also talk about how federal nutrition programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can be expanded and improved.
General Gross chats with Jimmy Buckner, Founder of the Knoxville, Tennessee – based Scarecrow Foundation. Buckner discusses his organization's XHunger initiative, which mobilizes young people to volunteer and generate resources for local food pantries. Buckner talks about his addressing hunger on the local level, and his organization's plans to grow the XHunger model nationwide.
Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) joins the podcast to talk about preparing the next generation for success. Gonzales speaks with guest host Rear Admiral (Ret.) Bob Besal, USN, about lessons from his upbringing, his distinguished service in the U.S. Navy, and the role child nutrition plays in securing America's future.
Ed Gerhardt, a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and school administrator, stops by the podcast to talk about the importance of adapting and modernizing child nutrition programs. General Gerhardt also talks about his past nutrition advocacy in Kansas, and his work as President of the Kansas Museum of the National Guard.
Dr. Parke Wilde of the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy joins the podcast to give an overview of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Dr. Wilde speaks with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman about the history of the program, how it works, new changes, and the impact that it has on children.
This week, Jake and Megan talk with Dr. Christina Hecht and Ken Hecht of the Nutrition Policy Institute. They discuss the important work they are doing to improve nutrition programs and promote drinking water, and share their thoughts on how to advocate for these issues effectively.
Nutrition Policy Institute: npi.ucanr.edu/
Drinking Water Alliance: www.drinkingwateralliance.org/
Letter to 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: bit.ly/3ybm5zT
Statement on Thrifty Food Plan: bit.ly/3ybmqCF
On the podcast this week, General Gross speaks with Rear Admiral (Ret.) Robert Kamensky, U.S. Navy. They discuss Admiral Kamensky's role as Chief Strategy Officer of Feeding San Diego, how Feeding San Diego has assisted families during COVID-19, and what it's like to live on a submarine.
Feeding San Diego: feedingsandiego.org/
Summer Meals Report Release: bit.ly/3ASRhFS
On this week's episode, New York Timesbest selling author and food journalist Mark Bittman joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "Animal, Vegetable, Junk." Bittman's new book examines the history of the human appetite and how farming and economics impact food consumption. General Gross talks with Mark about his long career covering the food industry, what he found while researching the book, and his thoughts on the future of food consumption in the United States.
This week on the podcast, Megan talks to Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN, of the National WIC Association (NWA). Darlena discusses the NWA's advocacy priorities and the importance of increasing program flexibility and access. She also shares an update on NWA's upcoming efforts, including plans to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month in August.
As part of a new policy "deep dive" series on the Mission: Readiness Podcast, active members and retired U.S. Navy Admirals Bob Besal and Casey Coane talk about the history of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and why it's so important for the future of America's strength and security.
Best of the Mission: Readiness Podcast – Chef José Andrés
Rebroadcast of General Gross's conversation with the chef and humanitarian
This week, a rebroadcast of General Gross's conversation last summer with celebrity chef and respected humanitarian, Chef José Andrés. General Gross spoke with Chef Andrés about lessons from his service in the Spanish Navy, leadership lessons from his work with World Central Kitchen, and more.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness podcast, General Allen and General Gross discuss artificial intelligence (AI), how it works, and the role of AI nationally and globally. They also discuss General Allen's recently released book co-authored with Darrell West, Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.
Stephanie Slingerland, Senior Director of Philanthropy and Social Impact at the Kellogg Company, visits the Mission: Readiness podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on Kellogg's philanthropic work to address hunger. Stephanie also talks with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman about the importance of adapting and modernizing federal nutrition programs, and the important role that school breakfast plays in helping kids succeed in the classroom.
Donna Cryer, President of the Global Liver Institute, sits down with Ben Goodman for a discussion about liver health. Cryer speaks about the alarming global rise in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), severe liver inflammation and damage caused by buildup of fat in the liver. Donna explains the connection between obesity and NASH, and what the disturbing increase of the condition among children means for future health outcomes and military readiness.
General Gross talks to new Mission: Readiness member and President of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), Rear Admiral (Ret.) Sinclair Harris, U.S. Navy. They discuss Admiral Harris' personal rules for success and NNOA's work to promote diversity and inclusion among the senior officer corps.
Visit the following for more information:
nnoa.org/
https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/rear-admirals-five-lessons-success.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CMy%20five%20lessons%20for%20success,your%20life%2C%E2%80%9D%20Harris%20said.
Ben talks to Dr. Shelley Kimball, Research Director for the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). They discuss the critically important work that MFAN is doing to support military families. Dr. Kimball also shares information about a new MFAN research report detailing how food insecurity impacts military families.
Mission: Readiness shares a recent conversation from the Mainely Matters Podcast, hosted by Brigadier General (Ret.) Rob Carmichael. General Carmichael interviews former Maine Adjutant General Bill Libby and Mission: Readiness National Director (and Maine native) Ben Goodman about the unique challenges rural families face in accessing early care and education.
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Michael Moss drops by the podcast to talk about his new book "Hooked." Moss' new book is a follow-up to his 2013 bestseller, "Salt Sugar Fat," detailing how the food industry formulates processed food to be more appealing and attractive to consumers. Moss speaks with General Gross about our biological response to certain ingredients, and why children may be most impacted by changes to the food industry.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) CEO Lisa Gable sits down with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman to speak about the disturbing rise in food allergies and why trends could impact military readiness. Later, General Gross speaks with the former Adjutants General of Arkansas and Michigan, Major General (Ret.) Bill Wofford, USA and Major General (Ret.) Tom Cutler, USAF, about progress on a long-awaited Child Nutrition Reauthorization.
On the latest episode of the podcast, retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Manson Brown speaks with Mission: Readiness Membership Director Jake Ferreira about his distinguished career in public service. Just in time for National Bike to School Day, Admiral Brown also discusses his love for cycling and bike ride (https://www.strongnation.org/articles/716-the-journey-is-the-destination) across America.
In this episode, Megan talks with Council for a Strong America Illinois State Director Tim Carpenter and Colorado State Director Michael Cooke to learn about the critical work they are doing in their states. Michael and Tim discuss why they enjoy the work they do, provide updates on recent legislative activity, and share what they've been up to during quarantine.
To learn more, visit below.
https://www.strongnation.org/locations/colorado
https://www.strongnation.org/locations/illinois
https://www.strongnation.org/articles/1513-illinois-commission-recommends-simpler-better-fairer-support-of-early-care-and-education
https://strongnation.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/1317/d753eb5f-2f38-49ba-9953-b66fcc6c73c4.pdf?1619629827
General Gross talks with longtime Mission: Readiness Colorado member General (Ret.) Gene Renuart, U.S. Air Force. They discuss General Renuart's impressive military career, his advice for leaders, and his advocacy work with Mission: Readiness on early childhood education and nutrition issues.
This week on the podcast, Ben and Megan talk to Mission: Readiness member Brigadier General (Ret.) Doug Pierce, U.S. Air Force, about his career, his time as the Mayor of Norwalk, Iowa, and what he has been working on during retirement. Then Megan talks to Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, about his obesity prevention work in West Virginia.
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness podcast, General Gross interviews General (Ret.) John Allen, USMC, former NATO commander and President of the Brookings Institution. General Allen and General Gross discuss the latest victories for nutrition assistance programs, Mission: Readiness' newly released Nutrition Policy Roadmap (https://www.strongnation.org/articles/1452-mission-readiness-nutrition-policy-roadmap), and some of the Brookings Institution's current efforts and priorities.
General Gross speaks with Brigadier General (Ret.) Dana Born, USAF about her military and civilian careers, including her time studying recruitment trends at the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy at the Pentagon. Published numerous times on leadership, General Born also gives us her top leadership lesson and tells us what it was like to be a commander at Bolling Air Force Base at the time of the September 11th attacks.
Josh Protas, Vice President of Public Policy at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, speaks with General Gross and Ben about growing food insecurity among military families. Plus, Jenny Wing Harper stops by the podcast to talk about provisions in the new COVID-19 relief bill geared at helping children succeed. Check out the MAZON website to learn more: mazon.org
This week on the podcast, General Gross talks to retired Air Force Colonel Jeff White, who currently serves as the Chief of Youth Programs and Acting Chief of J1 Strategy & Policy for the National Guard Bureau. They discuss National Guard programs that provide opportunities to young people, helping kids develop healthy habits, and how to effectively work with Congress.
To learn more about the National Guard Youth Challenge, check out their website: ngchallenge.org/
Longtime Fight Crime: Invest in Kids member and Maine Corrections Commissioner Randy Liberty joins the podcast to discuss the importance of helping kids succeed early. Commissioner Liberty discusses his military and law enforcement career, the importance of federal nutrition programs, and innovative work he is leading to improve the food consumed in Maine's prison system.
This week Megan talks to Casey Hanson and Craig Stevenson of Kids Win Missouri. Casey and Craig talk about their key legislative priorities for the 2021 Missouri General Assembly session, the challenges child care providers and parents have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and upcoming activities for Child Advocacy Day.
For more information, visit the following:
kidswinmissouri.org/
childadvocacyday.org/
Danielle Nierenberg, President and Co-Founder of Food Tank: The Think Tank For Food, joins the podcast to talk about trends and opportunities in our interconnected, global food system. Danielle, the 2020 recipient of the Julia Child Award, shares what she has seen when it comes to obesity and malnutrition during her travel to more than 70 countries.
Billy Shore, Founder and Executive Chair of Share Our Strength, joins the podcast to speak about why ending childhood hunger is within America's grasp, how the No Kid Hungry campaign is helping schools deal with the pandemic, and the vital importance of nutrition education.
General Gross kicks off a new season of the podcast with a behind the scenes interview with the Mission: Readiness national team. Jenny Wing Harper, Ben Goodman, Abby Ware, Megan Adamczewski, and John Connolly join the podcast to talk about how they got involved with Mission: Readiness, upcoming work in 2021, and how they've been spending their time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week on the Mission: Readiness podcast, National Director Ben Goodman talks to Lieutenant General (Ret.) Burke Garrett, U.S. Army. They discuss leadership, the importance of adaptation and staying active during COVID-19, and the need for long-term investments in nutrition programs. General Garrett also talks about his work with the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and his passion for promoting mental health and wellbeing.
General Gross speaks with Kim Fortunato, President of the Campbell's Soup Foundation and Vice President, Community Affairs at Campbell's. Kim, a member of our sibling organization, ReadyNation, talks about the private sector imperative for ensuring young people have access to fresh and nutritious food.
This week on the podcast, General Gross speaks with National Guard Youth Foundation President and Mission: Readiness member Brigadier General (Ret.) Allyson Solomon, U.S. Air Force. General Gross and General Solomon discuss the National Guard Youth Foundation, leadership, and adapting during COVID-19.
General Gross speaks to two Members of Congress about the importance of bipartisan efforts to address childhood nutrition and food insecurity. First, General Gross interviews Mission: Readiness member and retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). After that, he speaks with Marine Corps veteran Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA).
A special Veteran’s Day conversation with Mission: Readiness member Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond, U.S. Army. General Hammond is the Executive Director of Home Base, an organization that provides vital health services to veterans across the nation. He joins the podcast to discuss Home Base’s mission to treat Invisible Wounds like traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and other related conditions that often go overlooked in our veterans. General Hammond also shares insights from representing Mission: Readiness with legislative leaders in Massachusetts.
In this episode, Mission: Readiness member Major General (Ret.) Larry Harrington, U.S. Army, talks to Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS). Rep. Kelly is currently a Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard and discusses the importance of teaching kids healthy habits from a young age. Later, General Gross speaks to Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) about critical nutrition programs, including how the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) is successfully reducing childhood malnutrition in Michigan.
This episode features a robust discussion on the implications of the new Mission: Readiness report, ‘Breaking Point: Child malnutrition imperils America’s national security,’ with Major General (Ret.) Marcia Anderson, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kathleen Dussault, and Major General (Ret.) Ed Tonini. The three retired military leaders break down military eligibility challenges and possible solutions to reduce disqualifiers such as obesity. Ben Goodman also sits down with Associate Research Director Heather Maxey, the primary author of the report, to discuss its findings.
General Gross sits down with Sally Ann Zoll, Ed.D., CEO of United Through Reading, to discuss the challenges of engaging young learners during COVID-19, educating families of service members, and the importance of reading to young kids. Ben talks with early childhood expert Dr. Janice Gruendel of the ReadyNation Brain Science Speakers Bureau about the science behind preparing kids for success at an early age.
On today's episode of the Mission: Readiness podcast, General Gross talks with General Linnington, Chief Executive Officer of the Wounded Warrior Project and member of Mission: Readiness. We learn about the ways in which COVID-19 is impacting veterans, particularly veterans who have been wounded, and what the Wounded Warrior Project is doing to provide support. General Linnington also shares what inspired him to serve, what motivates him to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and how he hopes to encourage the same among our nation's youth and veteran population.
General Gross speaks to retired four-star Army General Stanley McChrystal, the former Commander of Joint Special Operations Command and the International Security Assistance Force. They discuss leadership lessons they learned from working together in the Army, the importance of quality nutrition, and how to manage teams during a public health crisis.
General Gross talks to Brigadier General (Ret.) Maureen LeBoeuf, USA, a senior advisor and faculty member of the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point. General LeBoeuf formerly served as the Head of the Department of Physical Education at the United States Military Academy. General Gross and General LeBoeuf discuss the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition, and how to lead during a crisis.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
General Gross talks to Major General Kevin Vereen, the new Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). General Vereen shares his priorities for Army recruiting and discusses how USAREC has responded to various challenges posed in 2020. Additionally, Mission: Readiness Associate Director Abby Ware speaks with Morgan Wittman Gramann, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Alliance for Health (NCAH). Morgan shares how NCAH is supporting North Carolina children and families during the pandemic.
General (Ret.) David Petraeus, U.S. Army, joins the podcast for an extensive conversation on leadership, military readiness, and preparing the next generation for success. Petraeus shares insight from his extraordinary public service career, which included leadership of coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and service as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. As mentioned on the podcast, David Petraeus on Strategic Leadership, from the Harvard Belfer Center, can be found here: https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/david-petraeus-strategic-leadership
General Gross sits down with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) to discuss his new bipartisan bill, the Meals on Wheels for Kids Act. Former Minnesota Adjutant General Harry Sieben also joins the podcast to discuss his time serving in the Minnesota Legislature.
General Gross sits down with Dan Giusti, Founder and CEO of Brigaid, about what motivated him to leave his job as head chef of world-renowned Copenhagen restaurant Noma to focus on changing how and what America's kids are eating. Admiral (Ret.) James Loy, the former Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, stops by the podcast to talk about his recent advocacy work to improve child nutrition and shares leadership lessons from his incredible career in service to the nation.
Respected U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, joins the podcast for a discussion on the broad national security implications of food insecurity. Admiral Stavridis also shares his thoughts on leadership during uncertain times and other lessons from his distinguished military career.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
General Gross sits down with internationally recognized chef and humanitarian José Andrés for a discussion about food insecurity, national security, and child nutrition programs. Chef Andrés discusses his ongoing work with World Central Kitchen, leadership during difficult times, and the impact of his Spanish Navy service on his groundbreaking culinary career.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
On this edition of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, a deep-dive on nutrition and national security, leading healthy lifestyles, and leadership during uncertain times with two highly-respected U.S. Air Force four-star generals.
General (Ret.) Richard Myers spent more than 40 years in uniform, culminating in his service as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He currently serves as President of Kansas State University. General (Ret.) Lori Robinson spent 37 years in uniform, culminating as Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). She is the highest-ranking woman in U.S. military history.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
This week, General Gross speaks with Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Dean of the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy about the science of child obesity, the key role of federal nutrition programs in strengthening America's diet, and alarming research about the connection between obesity and COVID. Major General (Ret.) Steven Lepper also joins the podcast to share his personal story about leading a healthy lifestyle during his military career, and shares observations about food insecurity from his current work as President & CEO of the Association of Military Banks of America.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
The Honorable David Shulkin, MD, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, joins the podcast to talk about the correlation between COVID-19 and obesity, the impact of obesity on veteran care, and managing the nation's second largest government agency.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman joins the podcast to talk about the evolution of the obesity crisis, crafting strong child nutrition policy, and the time he was the "Designated Survivor" at the State of the Union.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
General (Ret.) Frank Grass, U.S. Army, 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, joins the podcast to discuss barriers to recruitment, nutrition and obesity, and the National Guard's role in responding to public health crises and other national challenges.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross interviews Major General Frank Muth, the Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The gentlemen discuss challenges posed by enlistment barriers like obesity, recruitment during COVID-19, and the innovative new ways the Army is spreading the word about the opportunities afforded by military service.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)
In the first episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, Major General (Ret.) D. Allen Youngman, U.S. Army, sits down with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman to discuss the military's historic commitment to child nutrition programs and the impact of COVID-19 on nutrition and hunger.
(Theme: "Quit (Remix)" by Steve Combs)