Viva La Vargas: Service, Social Media and Showing Up / Tango Alpha Lima

TCAVA explained: What veterans need to know about the Take Care of America's Veterans Act

The Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) may be the most consequential piece of veterans legislation in years. But what does it actually do, and how will it affect you? In this special episode of Tango Alpha Lima, host Stacy Pearsall — a combat-wounded, medically retired Air Force veteran whose own benefits could be affected by this bill — sits down with American Legion Legislative Director Cole Lyle to break it all down. They cover what TCAVA does and why The American Legion has invested so heavily in getting it passed, how ratings for tinnitus and sleep apnea may change, what the bill means for mental health services and suicide prevention, improvements to access to care, and major changes for caregivers. "Whether you support the bill, oppose parts of it, or simply haven't made up your mind — our goal today is to give you the information you need to make an informed decision." This is essential listening for any veteran, military family member, or caregiver following this legislation. For more information, visit legion.org/tcava.

"Eat Your Feelings:" How YouTube cooking show opens the door to veterans' hard conversations

Army veteran Cory Brown watched 17 people from his cavalry troop die by suicide after returning from Iraq. The loss of his closest battle buddy became a turning point. His response was "Eat Your Feelings," a YouTube cooking and storytelling show that uses food to lower the walls around grief, identity, and veteran mental health — without ever calling it therapy. Cory joins co-host Sam Nathews, a  civilian and friend who brings his own experience with loss to every episode. Together they join Tango Alpha Lima hosts Adam Marr and Joe Worley to talk about why connection beats intervention, what it really takes to get veterans to open up, and how a shared meal can do what a counselor's office sometimes can't. Also in this episode: the landmark executive order accelerating psychedelic therapy research for veterans, and new science on blast injuries and cumulative TBI that is changing how the military thinks about invisible wounds. https://www.legion.org/get-involved/community-programs/usa250/challenge https://www.eatyourfeelingsshow.com/ https://www.legion.org/Get-Involved/Youth-Programs/Junior-Shooting-Sports National Commander praises executive order that expedites psychedelic treatments [https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/veterans-healthcare/2026/april/promise-of-a-brighter-future-for-our-veterans-and-their-loved-ones] for mental health Learn more about Executive Order 14401 [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/accelerating-medical-treatments-for-serious-mental-illness/?mc_cid=efa448e568&mc_eid=d34ca69bc9]

Like Father, Like Daughter: Michael and Sammy Sullivan on military service, family and fitness - Tango Alpha Lima

To celebrate Father’s Day, retired Army Colonel Mike “Sully” Sullivan and his daughter, Olympic bronze medalist and Army Captain Sammy Sullivan, talk about five generations of military service, accidental trailblazing, a Green Beret’s surprisingly tender parenting philosophy, developing grit and more. Sully, the executive director of Team Red, White & Blue, also discusses the organization’s mission to keep veterans “left of clinical.” Plus: New research on team sports as therapy, and how The American Legion supports adaptive sports programs. SHOW LINKS Learn more about Solace Health and check your eligibility here [https://www.solace.health/american-legion?utm_source=partner_americanlegion&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=al_launch_podcast&utm_source_platform=&utm_creative_format=&utm_marketing_tactic=] Learn more about Team RWB [https://teamrwb.org/] Learn more about the Army World Class Athlete Program [https://www.armywcap.com/] Learn more about Capt. Sammy Sullivan [https://sammysullivan.com/] and Team USA Rugby Women's Eagle Sevens [https://eagles.rugby/womens-eagles-sevens] There is still time to be part of The American Legion Family USA 250 Challenge [https://www.legion.org/get-involved/community-programs/usa250/challenge] Read more of the Journal of Veterans Studies [https://journal-veterans-studies.org/articles/10.21061/jvs.v12i1.814] report on how team sports help veterans with PTSD Find out more about how The American Legion can help you get back in the game with Operation Comfort Warrior [https://www.legion.org/get-involved/community-programs/operation-comfort-warriors/about ] grants. Follow the progress of the Veterans SPORT Act [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3138] on and the National Veterans Strategy Act of 2026 [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3726/text ]  Capitol Hill Your stories. Your service. Your community. This is Tango Alpha Lima.

Viva La Vargas: Service, Social Media and Showing Up / Tango Alpha Lima

What does it take to reach tens of millions of people a month while still on active duty? For Army Sgt. First Class Johnny Vargas — better known as Viva La Vargas — it started with a car fire, a recruiting station and a promise to himself to show up every single day. In this episode, Johnny chats about his journey from aspiring recording artist in Los Angeles to one of the military community's most trusted and entertaining voices online. He breaks down the three pillars that guide every piece of content he creates, explains why staying nonpartisan isn't just a strategy but a responsibility, and shares two powerful stories of how a single social media post changed real lives — including a family fighting a $800,000 insurance billing error while their toddler battled a terminal brain tumor. Johnny also shares a closing message about mental health that every veteran and servicemember needs to hear, which is in line with The American Legion's Be the One mission to create mental health awareness. Also in this episode, the hosts discuss a veteran-founded nonprofit turning vets into entrepreneurs, the growing world of remembrance tattoos, and Women Veterans Day on June 12. Show Links * Celebrate Women Veterans Day [https://womensmemorial.org/make-herstory/ ] * Learn more about VivaLaVargas [https://www.tiktok.com/@vivalavargas?_r=1&_t=ZP-94qjMwVRTBe ] * Check out the Warrior Rising [https://warriorrising.org/ ] Activate Accelerator * Check out the Task & Purpose article about TAPS gallery of military memorial tattoos [https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/military-memorial-tattoo/ ]

Gold Star Father turns Abbey Gate tragedy into mission to heal veterans - Tango Alpha Lima

On Aug. 26, 2021, Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, age 20, was among 13 servicemembers killed at the Abbey Gate in Kabul during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had wanted to be a Marine since he was 8. In the weeks after Jared's death, condolence checks from strangers filled more than a foot of mail. His father, Mark, couldn't bring himself to spend a single dollar of it. So he launched a nonprofit instead aimed at honoring the fallen and helping servicemembers with their mental health. On this Memorial Day episode of Tango Alpha Lima, Gold Star father Mark Schmitz joins hosts Adam Marr and Joe Worley to share the story of The Freedom 13, a mission to build therapeutic retreat camps for veterans and law enforcement on 100-plus acres in all 50 states, free of charge, with the first camp already under construction in Missouri. He also discusses the coalition of Abbey Gate families fighting for GI Bill reform and increased death benefits for fallen servicemembers. Also on this episode: Memorial Day events around the nation, the origin story of the Battle Buddy system, and Memorial Day fitness challenges honoring the fallen — including The Murph. SHOW LINKS Learn more about Armed Forces Vacation Club [http://www.afvclub.com/account/register/organization/5?utm_campaign=Prospecting_Affiliate_AFVC_ALPodcast_MAM_FY26&utm_source=American-Legion-Auxiliary_affiliate&utm_medium=digital-banner_awareness&utm_content=audio_general] Visit The Freedom 13 [www.thefreedom13.org] website Learn more about the 2026 Angels of Abbey Gate Memorial Ride [https://www.facebook.com/share/14WsgKo5vsb/] We Are The Mighty: Battle Buddies originated in the trenches of WWI [https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/battle-buddy-history-trench-foot/] Memorial Day Challenges: The Murph [https://themurphchallenge.com/]