Podcast
Vetted Conversations
Hosted by Vetted Conversations · EN
Welcome to Vetted Conversations, where we explore the foundations, workings, and challenges of American self-governance with events, quality dialogue, and through our podcast. Our mission is to equip you with the knowledge and insights needed to become informed and engaged citizens, actively participating in safeguarding our liberties and freedoms.
57episodes
Episodes
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Ep. 17: Womens' contributions to our national defense
Aug 29, 202400:58:55Tap to summarizeThis episode is all about the many contributions women have made to our national defense and how the military services are changing to better leverage the full talents of the American people. Leading off today's conversation, Joe speaks with U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot and combat veteran, Katey van Dam (1:33). Katey deployed in support of combat operations in Afghanistan and counter-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa/Gulf of Aden. She also co-founded No Exceptions, a non-partisan initiative that led the effort to get the Department of Defense to allow women to compete for jobs in the infantry, artillery, tanks, combat engineers and other previously closed military occupational specialties (MOSs). Next up, Ellen has a chat with Army veteran Phyllis Wilson (14:05) who served 37 years in the Army as a Military Intelligence (MI) Voice Intercept Operator. Phyllis has served around the globe – visiting more than 35 countries and had been mobilized numerous times to shoulder the duties of defense of the nation and has deployed to Iraq several times as an Intelligence Analyst with Special Operations. She now leads the efforts of the Womens Military Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery - whose mission is to capture and tell the stories of the many women who have defended our country. Lastly, Lindsay Knight (43:15) of Blue Star Families joins us for a discussion on what her organization is doing to strengthen the military community.Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 16: Our American libraries and how they support our system of self governance
Aug 22, 202401:14:31Tap to summarizeAmerica's founders knew that if our experiment in democracy was to survive, and people were to effectively govern themselves, the citizenry needed access to good information. While freedom of the press was enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, public libraries were equally important to the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. In this episode, Ellen and Joe speak with Dr. Shawn Healy (01:07) of iCivics on the rule of law and why it is important. Next up is Lisa Varga (06:00), the executive director of the Virginia Library Association and spouse of a Navy veteran to discuss how libraries serve our communities far beyond the collecting and issuing of books. And lastly, we speak with Kelsey Lawrence (50:30), a citizen, patriot, and mom living in rural Virginia who led an effort to fight off attempts to censor what library patrons could read. As our second President, John Adams said, "Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write!" Onward!Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 15: Trusting the Vote - how technology can help increase faith in election outcomes
Aug 15, 202401:09:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ellen and Joe speak with Dr. Shawn Healy (01:57) of iCivics about what the Electoral College is, why the Founders created it, and why it's so dang confusing to many Americans. Next, we have a very interesting conversation with Gregory Miller (07:51), the COO and co-founder of the Open Source Election Technology Institute - a non-partisan non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation headquartered in Silicon Valley. Gregory’s passion for defending democracy is rooted in a rich history as a 1st generation American, with a family journey escaping Nazi-Germany, immigrating to the U.S., becoming citizens, with family members serving the U.S. Military (Navy, Marines) in both NGO and enlisted capacities through the end of the Vietnam war. Greg talks about the strengths of our system of elections and how emerging technologies can make our elections even more safe and secure. Lastly, we speak with Marine Corps veteran Cole Lyle, who serves as the executive director of Mission Roll Call - a nonpartisan movement providing veterans with a powerful, unified voice that is heard by our nation’s leaders and communities.Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 14: The importance of civilian control of the military & our Selective Service
Jul 25, 202400:59:21Tap to summarizeWhat would happen if you didn't register for the Selective Service, aka "the draft?" In this episode, Dr. Mike O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution joins Ellen and Joe for a quick civics lesson on why it's important to have civilian control of the military. Next, Navy veteran Joel C. Spangenberg, the acting director of the Selective Service System, discusses how his agency contributes to our national defense. Lastly, Marine Corps Combat veteran and executive director of The Mission Continues, Marybeth Bruggeman, discusses how veterans and their families can serve their communities in meaningful ways.Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 13: How American citizens can fix Congress
Jul 11, 202400:52:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Shawn Healy of iCivics joins Ellen and Joe for a conversation about what the Founders intent was with Congress and why they designed the legislative process to be deliberately slow. Next, long-time Capitol Hill staffer Mike Johnson joins us to discuss his new book Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People where he details out what the current challenges between the political parties and how everyday Americans can demand a better, more effective system. Lastly, for veterans who are interested in starting careers on Capitol Hill, Navy veteran Justin Brown joins us to talk about the mission of Hill Vets.Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 12: How immigrants contribute to our national security
Jun 27, 202401:17:52Tap to summarizeEpisode 12 asks the question: how do immigrants contribute to our national security. America is a country of immigrants, and this episode explores how the best teams are built from people with different backgrounds, skill sets, and cultures. We kick things off (00:47) with U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran and current Deputy Chief of Citizenship and Applicant Information Services at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Al Eskalis who answers the question, "Why does America need immigration?" (3:12). Then,U.S. Army veterans and authors Adam Gamal and Kelly S. Kennedy join us to discuss their new book, The Unit: my life fighting terrorists as one of America's most secret military operatives. Adam discusses his journey from being a child in Alexandria, Egypt to joining a Tier 1 Special Operations Command unit so secretive that the Department of Defense prohibited him from publishing the unit's name. This is the first and only book to ever be written by a member of America's most secret military unit. This is the unit whose members go in BEFORE the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta or Naval Special Warfare Development Group (AKA Seal Team Six) hit the target. They are the people largely responsible for finding and fixing the target so other Tier 1 teams can finish them. Highly-trained in warfare, self-defense, infiltration, and deep surveillance, "the Unit," as the Department of Defense has asked us to refer to it, has been responsible for preventing dozens of terrorist attacks in the Western world. Never before has a member of this unit shared their story — until now. From Adam Gamal, one of the only Muslim Arab Americans to serve inside “the Unit," comes an incisive firsthand account of our nation’s most secretive military group. To protect his identity, Adam will also be using a voice scrambler for today’s interview - so please bear with us and understand this is for his and his family’s protection. And finally, U.S. Navy veteran and executive director of Minority Veterans of America, Lindsay Church joins us (1:03:29) to discuss how her organization helps minority veterans successfully make the transition from active duty to the civilian world.Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 11: How veterans can get involved in local government
Jun 20, 202401:02:33Tap to summarizeEpisode 11 explores how veterans can get involved in local government. Local government decisions often have a more direct impact on daily life than those at the state or federal level. We begin (1:24) with Dr. Shawn Healy, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at iCivics, who addresses the question, "What are our responsibilities as citizens?" (5:55). Next, Navy veteran Mike Cantwell discusses how veterans can run for local office. Finally, Garrett Cathcart, an Army veteran and executive director of More Perfect Union, shares how veterans and their families can strengthen communities through service and leadership. Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 10: The role of our military in our democracy
Jun 13, 202401:00:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we hear from Dr. Shawn Healey, PhD of iCivics (1:07) on why it's important to have civilian control of the military. And Kori Schake, the Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute shares her perspectives on the topic (7:33). Finally, Vet the Vote coalition member Chris Purdy of Veterans For American Ideals joins us (46:02) to tell you how you can get involved in a coalition of thousands of veterans and allies who continue their service to America by upholding, defending, and advocating for human rights at home and abroad. Support the Show. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2268525/support) For more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 9: Election reform: systemic changes to improve how we choose our leaders with Todd Connor and Eric Bronner
Mar 20, 202400:48:33Tap to summarizeJoining us are two guests - Navy veterans Todd Connor and Eric Bronner. Todd is the founder of the veteran business incubator Bunker Labs, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and author of Third Shift Entrepreneur. Eric is the Co-Founder of Show Me Integrity Education Fund, Missouri. He holds a JD from Washington University in St. Louis, and is a nationally recognized election reform leader. They both have co-founded a group called Veterans for All Americans (formerly called Veterans for Political Innovation) whose mission is To build and mobilize a community of military veterans to advocate for election innovations. Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
Transcribe →Ep. 8: Administering free and fair elections, a conversation with Secretaries of State Jocelyn Benson (MI) and David Scanlan (NH)
Mar 6, 202400:58:25Tap to summarizeJoining us today are The Honorable Jocelyn Benson from the Great State of Michigan, and The Honorable David Scanlan from the Great State of New Hampshire. Support the showFor more, check us out at www.wetheveterans.us and at https://linktr.ee/vettedconversations
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