The Tammy Alvarez Show

This week, Tammy sits down with Major General Michael R. Regner and his wife Mary Regner for the first part of a two-part interview. Major General Michael R. Regner has had a distinguished 40-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, beginning in 1976 when he was commissioned after graduating from The Citadel. Over the decades, he has held numerous high-level positions, including Staff Director at the Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., and Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. Major General Regner is recognized for his leadership, dedication to Marine Corps values, and service to both the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. He has mentored Marines and their families, and his career reflects a deep commitment to the Corps’ mission. Mary Regner is a passionate advocate for military families. She has served on boards and volunteered for many military family organizations. As a Marine Corps mom and spouse, she understands the questions and concerns that arise for a parent when their child decides to join the Marines. She and her husband, Major General Mike Regner, USMC (Ret), have supported their son and his family through two decades of service, multiple combat tours and deployments, and many moves. Her book, Semper Parents: Supporting Your Marine and Sharing the Journey, is currently available for purchase.

This week, Tammy sits down with Major General Michael R. Regner and his wife Mary Regner for the first part of a two-part interview. Major General Michael R. Regner has had a distinguished 40-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, beginning in 1976 when he was commissioned after graduating from The Citadel. Over the decades, he has held numerous high-level positions, including Staff Director at the Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., and Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. Major General Regner is recognized for his leadership, dedication to Marine Corps values, and service to both the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. He has mentored Marines and their families, and his career reflects a deep commitment to the Corps’ mission. Mary Regner is a passionate advocate for military families. She has served on boards and volunteered for many military family organizations. As a Marine Corps mom and spouse, she understands the questions and concerns that arise for a parent when their child decides to join the Marines. She and her husband, Major General Mike Regner, USMC (Ret), have supported their son and his family through two decades of service, multiple combat tours and deployments, and many moves. Her book, Semper Parents: Supporting Your Marine and Sharing the Journey, is currently available for purchase.

This week, Tammy sits down with acclaimed PBS TV producer Mike Wiser for the second part of a two-part interview. From PBS.org: Mike Wiser is an award-winning writer, producer, and interviewer who has worked on more than 70 FRONTLINE films over more than two decades. His reporting spans American politics, national security, foreign affairs, sports, criminal justice, and financial crises. His work has earned 10 Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, two duPont-Columbia Awards, two George Polk Awards, and seven Writers Guild of America Awards. He has interviewed dozens of leading figures in government and politics, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and conducted Judge J. Michael Luttig’s first television interview. Much of Mike’s work has focused on American politics, including the films The Rise of RFK Jr., The Choice 2024: Harris v. Trump, Democracy on Trial, Pelosi’s Power, McConnell, the GOP, and the Court, Lies, Politics and Democracy. The 2023 film Clarence and Ginni Thomas: Politics, Power and the Supreme Court won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary. In foreign affairs, Mike has covered the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine in films including Putin’s Revenge, Putin’s Road to War, and Putin and the Presidents. Netanyahu at War examined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s life, political rise, and conflicts with American presidents. The War Cabinet investigated President Trump’s top foreign-policy advisers and traced the administration’s increasingly aggressive use of military force in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran during his second term. Mike helped produce and write numerous other films examining Donald Trump and his presidency, including Trump’s Power and the Rule of Law,Trump’s American Carnage, Zero Tolerance, Trump’s Showdown, Trump’s Takeover, President Trump, Trump’s Road to the White House, Bannon’s War, and The Choice 2016. His work on United States of Secrets, which examined National Security Agency surveillance, earned a Peabody Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and two Emmy Awards—including one for Best Documentary. He also served as a producer and co-writer on League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis, a film that received a Peabody Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and a George Polk Award.  Mike received an Emmy Award for FRONTLINE’s investigation Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA. He also worked on numerous films about Wall Street and financial regulation, including the Emmy Award-winning film The Warning and the miniseries Money, Power and Wall Street, which earned an Emmy Award and a George Polk Award. In addition, Mike helped produce nearly a dozen films about the government’s response to September 11 and the American occupation of Iraq, including America After 9/11, The Torture Question (Emmy Award), The Lost Year in Iraq (Emmy Award), The Dark Side, Cheney’s Law(Peabody Award), Bush’s War (Emmy Award), and Losing Iraq. Mike graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury College, attended the London School of Economics as a General Course student, and received a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School.

This week, Tammy sits down with acclaimed PBS TV producer Mike Wiser for the first part of a two-part interview. From PBS.org: Mike Wiser is an award-winning writer, producer, and interviewer who has worked on more than 70 FRONTLINE films over more than two decades. His reporting spans American politics, national security, foreign affairs, sports, criminal justice, and financial crises. His work has earned 10 Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, two duPont-Columbia Awards, two George Polk Awards, and seven Writers Guild of America Awards. He has interviewed dozens of leading figures in government and politics, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and conducted Judge J. Michael Luttig’s first television interview. Much of Mike’s work has focused on American politics, including the films The Rise of RFK Jr., The Choice 2024: Harris v. Trump, Democracy on Trial, Pelosi’s Power, McConnell, the GOP, and the Court, Lies, Politics and Democracy. The 2023 film Clarence and Ginni Thomas: Politics, Power and the Supreme Court won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary. In foreign affairs, Mike has covered the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine in films including Putin’s Revenge, Putin’s Road to War, and Putin and the Presidents. Netanyahu at War examined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s life, political rise, and conflicts with American presidents. The War Cabinet investigated President Trump’s top foreign-policy advisers and traced the administration’s increasingly aggressive use of military force in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran during his second term. Mike helped produce and write numerous other films examining Donald Trump and his presidency, including Trump’s Power and the Rule of Law,Trump’s American Carnage, Zero Tolerance, Trump’s Showdown, Trump’s Takeover, President Trump, Trump’s Road to the White House, Bannon’s War, and The Choice 2016. His work on United States of Secrets, which examined National Security Agency surveillance, earned a Peabody Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and two Emmy Awards—including one for Best Documentary. He also served as a producer and co-writer on League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis, a film that received a Peabody Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and a George Polk Award.  Mike received an Emmy Award for FRONTLINE’s investigation Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA. He also worked on numerous films about Wall Street and financial regulation, including the Emmy Award-winning film The Warning and the miniseries Money, Power and Wall Street, which earned an Emmy Award and a George Polk Award. In addition, Mike helped produce nearly a dozen films about the government’s response to September 11 and the American occupation of Iraq, including America After 9/11, The Torture Question (Emmy Award), The Lost Year in Iraq (Emmy Award), The Dark Side, Cheney’s Law(Peabody Award), Bush’s War (Emmy Award), and Losing Iraq. Mike graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury College, attended the London School of Economics as a General Course student, and received a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School.

This week, Tammy sits down with acclaimed PBS TV producer Mike Wiser for the first part of a two-part interview. From PBS.org: Mike Wiser is an award-winning writer, producer, and interviewer who has worked on more than 70 FRONTLINE films over more than two decades. His reporting spans American politics, national security, foreign affairs, sports, criminal justice, and financial crises. His work has earned 10 Emmy Awards, four Peabody Awards, two duPont-Columbia Awards, two George Polk Awards, and seven Writers Guild of America Awards. He has interviewed dozens of leading figures in government and politics, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and conducted Judge J. Michael Luttig’s first television interview. Much of Mike’s work has focused on American politics, including the films The Rise of RFK Jr., The Choice 2024: Harris v. Trump, Democracy on Trial, Pelosi’s Power, McConnell, the GOP, and the Court, Lies, Politics and Democracy. The 2023 film Clarence and Ginni Thomas: Politics, Power and the Supreme Court won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary. In foreign affairs, Mike has covered the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine in films including Putin’s Revenge, Putin’s Road to War, and Putin and the Presidents. Netanyahu at War examined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s life, political rise, and conflicts with American presidents. The War Cabinet investigated President Trump’s top foreign-policy advisers and traced the administration’s increasingly aggressive use of military force in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran during his second term. Mike helped produce and write numerous other films examining Donald Trump and his presidency, including Trump’s Power and the Rule of Law, Trump’s American Carnage, Zero Tolerance, Trump’s Showdown, Trump’s Takeover, President Trump, Trump’s Road to the White House, Bannon’s War, and The Choice 2016. His work on United States of Secrets, which examined National Security Agency surveillance, earned a Peabody Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and two Emmy Awards—including one for Best Documentary. He also served as a producer and co-writer on League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis, a film that received a Peabody Award, a Writers Guild of America Award, and a George Polk Award.  Mike received an Emmy Award for FRONTLINE’s investigation Gunned Down: The Power of the NRA. He also worked on numerous films about Wall Street and financial regulation, including the Emmy Award-winning film The Warning and the miniseries Money, Power and Wall Street, which earned an Emmy Award and a George Polk Award. In addition, Mike helped produce nearly a dozen films about the government’s response to September 11 and the American occupation of Iraq, including America After 9/11, The Torture Question (Emmy Award), The Lost Year in Iraq (Emmy Award), The Dark Side, Cheney’s Law (Peabody Award), Bush’s War (Emmy Award), and Losing Iraq. Mike graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury College, attended the London School of Economics as a General Course student, and received a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School.

This week, Tammy sits down with renowned Annapolis-based attorney Samuel J. Brown for the second part of a two-part interview. Samuel J. Brown is a highly respected attorney in Annapolis, Maryland, with over 50 years of legal practice in Anne Arundel County. Brown is widely recognized as one of the leading divorce attorneys in the area, having tried over 500 divorce, custody, support, and visitation cases, with his longest trial lasting 23 days. Brown has received many accolades and awards in his 50 years of practice in Anne Arundel County including: Leading Lawyer by What’s Up Magazine Reader’s Choice Award from the Capital Newspaper Super Lawyer in the State of Maryland Top Lawyer by Baltimore Smart CEO magazine

This week, Tammy sits down with renowned Annapolis-based attorney Samuel J. Brown for the first part of a two-part interview. Samuel J. Brown is a highly respected attorney in Annapolis, Maryland, with over 50 years of legal practice in Anne Arundel County. Brown is widely recognized as one of the leading divorce attorneys in the area, having tried over 500 divorce, custody, support, and visitation cases, with his longest trial lasting 23 days. Brown has received many accolades and awards in his 50 years of practice in Anne Arundel County including: Leading Lawyer by What’s Up Magazine Reader’s Choice Award from the Capital Newspaper Super Lawyer in the State of Maryland Top Lawyer by Baltimore Smart CEO magazine

This week, we present the second part of a two-part interview with Tammy Alvarez and her guest Father James Van Dyke, S.J., the 20th President of Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, the nation’s oldest Catholic boys’ school and the only Jesuit boarding school in the United States. Prior to his presidency at Georgetown Prep, Father Van Dyke served as the rector of the Jesuit Community at St. Ignatius in New York City for five years. He also was the founding principal at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School. In addition to these leadership roles, he directed Ignatian Programs and Faculty and Staff Faith Formation at Xavier High School in New York City and Canisius High School in Buffalo, New York. In the classroom, Father Van Dyke has taught English at Canisius High School (Buffalo, New York), Xavier High School (New York City), Fordham Prep (Bronx, New York), McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, New York), and Regis High School (New York City), where he also served as chaplain. He has also served on the Boards of Trustees at Fordham Prep and Regis High School. A graduate of Canisius High School, Father Van Dyke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Virginia. He holds M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from the Weston School of Theology and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA) from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1981 and pronounced his Final Vows in 2005.

This week, we present the first part of a two-part interview with Tammy Alvarez and her guest Father James Van Dyke, S.J., the 20th President of Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, the nation’s oldest Catholic boys’ school and the only Jesuit boarding school in the United States. Prior to his presidency at Georgetown Prep, Father Van Dyke served as the rector of the Jesuit Community at St. Ignatius in New York City for five years. He also was the founding principal at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School. In addition to these leadership roles, he directed Ignatian Programs and Faculty and Staff Faith Formation at Xavier High School in New York City and Canisius High School in Buffalo, New York. In the classroom, Father Van Dyke has taught English at Canisius High School (Buffalo, New York), Xavier High School (New York City), Fordham Prep (Bronx, New York), McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, New York), and Regis High School (New York City), where he also served as chaplain. He has also served on the Boards of Trustees at Fordham Prep and Regis High School. A graduate of Canisius High School, Father Van Dyke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Virginia. He holds M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from the Weston School of Theology and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA) from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1981 and pronounced his Final Vows in 2005.

Today, Tammy sits down with recovery addict and inspirational speaker Justine Archuleta. Justine's journey is one of extraordinary resilience, courage, and transformation. Growing up in a family of twelve, she faced adversity from an early age and later endured an abusive relationship while raising her daughter, who courageously overcame serious health challenges.  After years of struggling with addiction and personal setbacks, Justine made the life-changing decision to seek help. Through rehabilitation, determination, and an unwavering commitment to recovery, she rebuilt her life and is now celebrating more than five years of sobriety.  Today, Justine is dedicated to creating a brighter future for herself and her children while inspiring others with her message of hope, healing, and perseverance. She believes that no matter how difficult life's circumstances may be, lasting change is always possible.  Today, we'll hear Justine's powerful story of overcoming trauma, addiction, and adversity, and learn how resilience, faith, and determination helped her reclaim her life and discover a renewed sense of purpose.

This week, Tammy Alvarez welcomes back Dr. Richard B. Reff, for the second part of a new two-part interview. Dr. Richard “Ricky” B. Reff is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician with more than five decades of clinical experience treating musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative joint conditions. He specializes in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, with extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating injuries of the hip, knee, shoulder, and spine, as well as sports-related and overuse injuries. [doctor.webmd.com], [healthgrades.com] Dr. Reff earned his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and has been in continuous clinical practice since graduating in 1972. He is affiliated with leading regional hospitals, including Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Holy Cross Hospital, and practices as part of The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics in Rockville, Maryland.

This week, Tammy Alvarez welcomes back Dr. Richard B. Reff, for the first part of a new two-part interview. Dr. Richard “Ricky” B. Reff is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician with more than five decades of clinical experience treating musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative joint conditions. He specializes in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, with extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating injuries of the hip, knee, shoulder, and spine, as well as sports-related and overuse injuries. [doctor.webmd.com], [healthgrades.com] Dr. Reff earned his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and has been in continuous clinical practice since graduating in 1972. He is affiliated with leading regional hospitals, including Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Holy Cross Hospital, and practices as part of The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics in Rockville, Maryland.

This week, Tammy sits down for a discussion with Dr. Mark Mykityshyn, Founder and Managing Partner of Endeavor Technology Group. Prior to Endeavor, he co-founded and managed three companies, including two investment firms. In his various roles, he has served as Managing Partner, CEO, Chairman, Co-Chairman and Executive Chairman, developing and executing strategies to help orchestrate substantive exits for multiple companies. As a Management Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, he participated in and led several engagements focused on the Space, Aerospace, and Defense industry, including co-authoring a 500-page study that analyzed the evolution of world-wide air traffic management systems (ATM). He served in the military as a Marine Corps officer and Naval Aviator. His civilian participation in National Security affairs includes serving as the Chairman of the U.S. Army War College Board of Visitors, and as a member of or advisor to the Naval Research Advisory Committee, the Defense Science Board, the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and NASA’s Advisory Council. He is currently a Senior Fellow in the Center for Business and Public Policy at Georgetown University. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mark earned his Doctorate in Systems Engineering, minor in Aerospace Engineering, from The Georgia Institute of Technology. He also earned a Master’s Degree from the Science, Technology & Public Policy Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and the degrees of Engineer of and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This week, Tammy welcomes Lt. General Ronald R. Blanck, D.O. U.S. Army (Ret.) & Captain Kathryn M. Beasley, USN (Ret.) for the second part of a two-part interview. General Blanck began his military career in 1968 as a medical officer and battalion surgeon in Vietnam. He retired 32 years later as a Lieutenant General and Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command — with more than 46,000 military personnel and 26,000 civilian employees throughout the world. Captain Beasley is a retired Navy Captain who had a 30-year career serving in the Navy Nurse Corps. Upon retirement from military service, she worked for a decade at the Military Officers Association of America, where she advocated for military members, their families and veterans on a range of healthcare issues at the national level.

This week, Tammy welcomes Lt. General Ronald R. Blanck, D.O. U.S. Army (Ret.) & Captain Kathryn M. Beasley, USN (Ret.) for the first part of a two-part interview. General Blanck began his military career in 1968 as a medical officer and battalion surgeon in Vietnam. He retired 32 years later as a Lieutenant General and Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command — with more than 46,000 military personnel and 26,000 civilian employees throughout the world. Captain Beasley is a retired Navy Captain who had a 30-year career serving in the Navy Nurse Corps. Upon retirement from military service, she worked for a decade at the Military Officers Association of America, where she advocated for military members, their families and veterans on a range of healthcare issues at the national level.

This week, Tammy welcomes Lt. General Ronald R. Blanck, D.O. U.S. Army (Ret.) & Captain Kathryn M. Beasley, USN (Ret.) for the first part of a two-part interview. General Blanck began his military career in 1968 as a medical officer and battalion surgeon in Vietnam. He retired 32 years later as a Lieutenant General and Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command — with more than 46,000 military personnel and 26,000 civilian employees throughout the world. Captain Beasley is a retired Navy Captain who had a 30-year career serving in the Navy Nurse Corps. Upon retirement from military service, she worked for a decade at the Military Officers Association of America, where she advocated for military members, their families and veterans on a range of healthcare issues at the national level.

This week, Tammy sits down with world traveler extraordinaire, Vietnam War veteran, author and longtime social studies teacher Rufus McGaugh. A native of Detroit, Michigan, McGaugh served in the Marines and was stationed in Vietnam for two years. He was awarded the Purple Heart in 1970. Upon returning home, McGaugh set out on a quest to join an exclusive fraternity as someone who has traveled to every country in the world. In May 2017, McGaugh officially completed his goal of visiting all 50 states, all 7 continents and 258 countries and lands. As a middle school social studies teacher for 39 years in the Grosse Pointe (Michigan) Public School System, McGaugh set himself apart by sharing his travel experiences with students through his photographs and stories, bringing the world right to their desks. McGaugh has also written and published four books documenting his travels: "Longitude and Latitude, with Attitude," "Joyriding with a Terrorist in Yemen," "Drowning in all Seven Continents" and "Travels, Treasures and Tales of a Nomad." They are all currently available for purchase on Amazon and at other retail outlets.

This week, Tammy Alvarez welcomes back Dr. Courtney Lesoon for a continued discussion about the world of Islamic art and what people can learn from it. They also dive into the effects that artificial intelligence is having on the world of education and society as a whole. Dr. Lesoon is a historian of Islamic art, architecture, and urbanism. She earned her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was advised by Professor Nasser Rabbat in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Her doctoral work was supported by the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays program and the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Foundation. Dr. Lesoon is currently the Macaulay Family Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Islamic Art History at Smarthistory.

This week, Tammy Alvarez welcomes David Vardeman for the second part of a two-part interview. A high-performing Global Business Development Specialist and Community Banking Leader, David Vardeman has exceptional experience developing and driving robust programs that are bold, innovative and scalable.  He is especially noted for consistently achieving aggressive marketing and sales projections, capturing consumer interest, and increasing customer service, satisfaction and retention.   Among his many career achievements are successfully starting the Business Banking Division, starting the Not-for-Profit initiative, being considered a top national banker supporting U.S. veterans and earning merit-based promotion to his present position from Department Head to Senior Vice President.

This week, Tammy Alvarez welcomes David Vardeman for the first part of a two-part interview. A high-performing Global Business Development Specialist and Community Banking Leader, David Vardeman has exceptional experience developing and driving robust programs that are bold, innovative and scalable.  He is especially noted for consistently achieving aggressive marketing and sales projections, capturing consumer interest, and increasing customer service, satisfaction and retention.   Among his many career achievements are successfully starting the Business Banking Division, starting the Not-for-Profit initiative, being considered a top national banker supporting U.S. veterans and earning merit-based promotion to his present position from Department Head to Senior Vice President.

This week, Tammy Alvarez is joined by Father David Khorey for the second segment of a two-part interview. Father Khorey is the associate pastor of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame  and Vanderbilt University Law School. He was a partner at a large regional law firm where he practiced labor and employment law for nearly four decades. He also served as chair of the firm's labor section for many years, and as managing partner from 2016-2018. He was a member of the national College of Labor and Employment Attorneys and the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Bar Labor Section. Active in the Church throughout his life, he completed the St. Stephen's Course through the Antiochian House of Studies and received an M.A. in Applied Theology from its joint program with Balamand University. In 2003 he was ordained as a Deacon and in 2010 he was elevated to Archdeacon. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2023 and attached to his home parish to assist in serving its growing needs.

This week, Tammy Alvarez is joined by Father David Khorey for the first segment of a two-part interview. Father Khorey is the associate pastor of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame  and Vanderbilt University Law School. He was a partner at a large regional law firm where he practiced labor and employment law for nearly four decades. He also served as chair of the firm's labor section for many years, and as managing partner from 2016-2018. He was a member of the national College of Labor and Employment Attorneys and the Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Bar Labor Section. Active in the Church throughout his life, he completed the St. Stephen's Course through the Antiochian House of Studies and received an M.A. in Applied Theology from its joint program with Balamand University. In 2003 he was ordained as a Deacon and in 2010 he was elevated to Archdeacon. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2023 and attached to his home parish to assist in serving its growing needs.

This week, Tammy is proud to welcome Dr. Frank A. Blazich Jr., PhD. A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. Blazich Jr. is a curator of Military History at the National Museum of American History. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he holds a doctorate in modern American history from The Ohio State University (2013). In January 2017, he assumed his current position as curator of modern military history. His first edited book, Bataan Survivor: A POW’s Account of Japanese Captivity in World War II, was published by the University of Missouri Press in February 2017. He most recent book, “An Honorable Place in American Air Power”: Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Operations, 1943-1943, was published by Air University Press in December 2020.

Joy Ditto is a nationally recognized energy policy leader and former president and chief executive officer of the American Public Power Association, where she served from 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she represented more than 2,000 community‑owned electric utilities serving roughly 49 million Americans and led the organization through the COVID‑19 pandemic, major grid reliability challenges, and significant federal policy shifts. Prior to that role, she was president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council and spent more than 15 years in senior leadership positions at the American Public Power Association. Earlier in her career, Ditto worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to members of the U.S. House and Senate, focusing on energy, environmental, and economic issues. She is currently the founder and CEO of Joy Ditto Consulting, advising organizations across the energy, infrastructure, and national security sectors.

This week, Tammy Alvarez has a very engaging conversation with Dr. Courtney Lesoon about the world of Islamic art and what people can learn from it. Dr. Lesoon is a historian of Islamic art, architecture, and urbanism. She earned her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was advised by Professor Nasser Rabbat in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Her doctoral work was supported by the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays program and the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Foundation. Dr. Lesoon is currently the Macaulay Family Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Islamic Art History at Smarthistory.

On this episode, Tammy speaks with Navy Captain (Ret) Mike McGrath (POW) about his efforts to help uncover and expose POW benefit fraud in the VA and help true veterans receive the benefits they have rightfully earned. Captain McGrath was a Prisoner of War for nearly six years during the Vietnam War. Upon returning home, he chronicled his experiences and shared his own artwork in his book "Prisoner of War - Six Years in Hanoi," which is available for purchase online. Captain McGrath earned numerous awards for his service including the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and the 2003 Medal of Courage Award.

On this edition, Tammy Alvarez sits down with her very special guests, Lt. Col. Orson Swindle & Everett Alvarez Jr., JD, CDR, USN (Ret.) Two of the longest held-captive POW's during the Vietnam War, Lt. Col. Swindle and Alvarez Jr. recall their experiences surviving at the notorious POW camp known as the "Hanoi Hilton" with other POW's including the late Sen. John McCain. They also speak about their continued efforts advocating on behalf of other POW's and veterans wherever they may be. Lt. Col. Swindle is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot whose plane was shot down on November 11, 1966 over North Vietnam. He spent over 6 years as a POW in Hanoi before returning home and being awarded numerous medals. After retiring as a Lt. Colonel, Orson served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Reagan Administration and as a Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission. Alvarez Jr., a former Navy fighter pilot, served 8 1/2 years as a POW after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam on Aug. 5, 1964. After returning home from war, Alvarez Jr. retired from the Navy in 1980 before serving multiple positions including Deputy Director of the Peace Corps and Deputy Administrator of the VA. Alvarez Jr. was also awarded numerous honors, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024.

Tammy Alvarez sits down with Johnny Crowley, who made a name for himself as the stadium announcer and play-by-play announcer at his alma mater, Georgetown Prep, in North Bethesda, MD. Crowley also gives us an update on his current ventures as a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, including working as an anchor/reporter for SMU-TV. He is currently pursuing a degree in Journalism and Sports Management.

Dr. Richard “Ricky” B. Reff is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician with more than five decades of clinical experience treating musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative joint conditions. He specializes in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, with extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating injuries of the hip, knee, shoulder, and spine, as well as sports-related and overuse injuries. [doctor.webmd.com], [healthgrades.com] Dr. Reff earned his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and has been in continuous clinical practice since graduating in 1972. He is affiliated with leading regional hospitals, including Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Holy Cross Hospital, and practices as part of The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics in Rockville, Maryland.

David Vardeman is a Washington, D.C.–based community banking executive and nationally recognized advocate for veterans and military‑focused nonprofit organizations. He has served as a Senior Vice President at Capital Bank, where he launched and led the bank’s Not‑for‑Profit and Global Business Development initiatives. Widely regarded as a leading banker supporting military and veterans’ organizations, Vardeman has acted as a trusted advisor to nonprofit executives and boards, aligning financial strategy, fundraising, and mission sustainability. He serves on multiple civic and military‑affiliated boards, including the National Capital Council of the Navy League of the United States, the Coast Guard Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Warrior GMR Foundation, which focuses on veteran mental health and resilience. Vardeman is also a frequent speaker and commentator on veteran transition, leadership, and mental‑health advocacy, and has been featured by The American Legion for his work supporting the military community.

David Vardeman is a Washington, D.C.–based community banking executive and nationally recognized advocate for veterans and military‑focused nonprofit organizations. He has served as a Senior Vice President at Capital Bank, where he launched and led the bank’s Not‑for‑Profit and Global Business Development initiatives. Widely regarded as a leading banker supporting military and veterans’ organizations, Vardeman has acted as a trusted advisor to nonprofit executives and boards, aligning financial strategy, fundraising, and mission sustainability. He serves on multiple civic and military‑affiliated boards, including the National Capital Council of the Navy League of the United States, the Coast Guard Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Warrior GMR Foundation, which focuses on veteran mental health and resilience. Vardeman is also a frequent speaker and commentator on veteran transition, leadership, and mental‑health advocacy, and has been featured by The American Legion for his work supporting the military community.

Joy Ditto is a nationally recognized energy policy leader and former president and chief executive officer of the American Public Power Association, where she served from 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she represented more than 2,000 community‑owned electric utilities serving roughly 49 million Americans and led the organization through the COVID‑19 pandemic, major grid reliability challenges, and significant federal policy shifts. Prior to that role, she was president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council and spent more than 15 years in senior leadership positions at the American Public Power Association. Earlier in her career, Ditto worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to members of the U.S. House and Senate, focusing on energy, environmental, and economic issues. She is currently the founder and CEO of Joy Ditto Consulting, advising organizations across the energy, infrastructure, and national security sectors.

Joy Ditto is a nationally recognized energy policy leader and former president and chief executive officer of the American Public Power Association, where she served from 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she represented more than 2,000 community‑owned electric utilities serving roughly 49 million Americans and led the organization through the COVID‑19 pandemic, major grid reliability challenges, and significant federal policy shifts. Prior to that role, she was president and CEO of the Utilities Technology Council and spent more than 15 years in senior leadership positions at the American Public Power Association. Earlier in her career, Ditto worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to members of the U.S. House and Senate, focusing on energy, environmental, and economic issues. She is currently the founder and CEO of Joy Ditto Consulting, advising organizations across the energy, infrastructure, and national security sectors.

Maj. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, U.S. Army (Ret.), is a physician, combat veteran, and nationally recognized leader in resilience and human performance. She served as a helicopter flight surgeon during the Gulf War and was shot down and taken prisoner of war in 1991, an experience that later shaped her work on recovery and resilience. Cornum went on to a distinguished Army career, culminating as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. After retiring from the Army, she became Director of the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program, helping institutionalize resilience training across the force. She is now a senior leader at the Boulder Crest Foundation, advancing post‑traumatic growth initiatives for veterans, first responders, and their families.

Taylor Baldwin Kiland is an incredibly talented military nonfiction author and former U.S. Navy officer whose work focuses on the Vietnam War era and America’s POW/MIA legacy. A third‑generation Navy veteran, she grew up in Coronado, California, and Alexandria, Virginia, alongside many POW and MIA families. Kiland spent two decades in marketing communications before transitioning to full‑time writing and holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. She lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, and writes and speaks nationally on leadership, resilience, and military history.

Joe Lopez is the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Richard Nixon Foundation, which jointly operates and supports the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. He assumed the acting role in February 2025, following a tenure as Vice President for Marketing and Communications, where he led national initiatives that elevated the Library’s profile. Since joining the Foundation in 2014, Lopez has overseen major campaigns including the Richard Nixon Centennial Celebration and the $15 million renovation and reopening of the Nixon Library, earning industry recognition such as a PRSA Silver Anvil Award. Earlier in his career, he worked as a publicist at Scoop Marketing and managed publicity and events across entertainment and cultural institutions. Lopez holds a B.A. in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, where he also served as student body president.

Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Col. Lawrence C. Mohr Jr., M.D., U.S. Army (Ret.), is a decorated Army physician who served as White House Physician to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush from 1987 to 1993. During his military career, he held combat and command assignments, including service in Vietnam, and rose to senior leadership roles within Army medicine. Dr. Mohr is board‑certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease and completed advanced medical training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After his White House service, he pursued an academic career as a professor of medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he combined clinical practice with research and teaching. He is widely recognized for his leadership at the intersection of medicine, military service, and national public trust.

Capt. Kevin Wensing, U.S. Navy (Ret.), served more than 25 years as a surface warfare and public affairs officer with assignments at sea and in senior leadership roles at the Pentagon. During his naval career, he worked closely with the Secretary of the Navy and served as special assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, supporting national‑level defense and communications initiatives. Following his retirement from active duty, Wensing became vice president and assistant to the president of the USO, where he focused on programs supporting service members and military families worldwide. He later founded Wensing Enterprises, advising nonprofit organizations, veterans’ groups, and institutions on strategic communications, public engagement, and national commemorations. Wensing remains active in veterans’ advocacy, public service initiatives, and civic organizations connected to military and national service.

Captain Sawsan (“Suzy”) Ghurani, M.D., U.S. Navy (Ret.), is a board‑certified psychiatrist with more than three decades of experience in military and civilian mental health care. She served in senior clinical and leadership roles across the U.S. Navy, including assignments at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Camp Lejeune, and Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River. Dr. Ghurani also held policy and mental‑health leadership positions within the Department of Defense, shaping care delivery for service members and their families. She earned her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and completed advanced training through the National Capital Consortium and the Naval War College. She currently serves as Medical Director for Greenbrook TMS in Maryland, specializing in treatment‑resistant depression and trauma‑related conditions.