The National Defense Radio Show

Actress Marlo Thomas Returns to The National Defense

We welcome back actress and philanthropist, Marlo Thomas to the program.  These holiday visits from Marlo with Randy have become quite a holiday tradition, as we are hoping to help raise crucial funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  Marlo’s father, Danny founded the hospital, and she speaks with Randy about her immigrant father’s love for this Country and it’s children.

Tractor Supply Co.’s Rodney Bailey

Safety, Security, and Training Manager for Tractor Supply Co., Rodney Bailey, joins our program to talk about his time serving in the military, following in his Army veteran Dad’s footsteps, his four tours overseas, and his transition to civilian life, including writing a children’s book on faith.  Rodney received the Purple Heart for his wounds during a small-arms engagement and explains how his time in the military has informed his work with our great partner, Tractor Supply Co., which is working hard to support our veterans and our communities.

Julie Rossi with “BONK” on The National Defense

We have a real holiday treat for you in store as we welcome military veteran, entrepreneur, and supporter of veterans to the program in Julie Rossi.  Julie and Randy talk about holiday memories, buying and selling companies, some great advice for veterans looking to take over their own businesses, as well as your musical holiday treat… BONK!

Jaime Bluma Supporting our Veterans with Red, White, and Bluma

Randy speaks with his long-time friend and former pitcher for the Kansas City Royals: Jaime Bluma.  Jaime and Randy talk about baseball, supporting the military, and how a decade of Jaime’s “Red, White, and Bluma” fundraiser has evolved over the years.

Talking Johnny Carson with Author Mark Malkoff

Randy Miller welcomes comedian and writer Mark Malkoff to the show to talk about one of his favorite people: Johnny Carson.  Mark has written a new book called “Love Johnny Carson” which details the relationship behind the curtain at NBC.  There are a ton of great stories in this book, and we’re happy to have Mark here to share just some of them.

Author Ace Atkins with “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

Randy welcome author Ace Atkins to the show to talk about his new book “Everybody Wants to Rule the World: A Novel.”  Ace talks to Randy about his life, playing football at Auburn, as well as how his book is set forty years ago in the leadup to the Geneva Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev.

Television Writer Shelley Herman with “My Peacock Tale”

We welcome writer Shelley Herman to the program to talk about her life working at NBC, starting out as a page, all the way up to the thousands of hours of television that she has written.  Randy talks with Shelley about that career and how it is encapsulated in her new book “My Peacock Tale: Secrets of an NBC Page.”

Actor Rex Linn on The National Defense

We welcome actor Rex Linn, star of “Young Sheldon” and “CSI: Miami” to name a few, to the program to talk about his new show “Happy’s Place.”  The show is set in Knoxville, TN, so buckle up as Randy (a proud Knoxville native) drills down into the show’s authenticity.  Rex and Randy talk about the show, his co-star girlfriend, Reba, and much more.

Neil McNulty, CEO of MMG Leaders

We welcome the CEO of MMG Leaders, Neil McNulty, to the program to discuss the shifting challenges veterans face when transitioning to the civilian world, as new statistics reveal that a large group of veterans leaving active duty are unemployed or underemployed.  Check out MMG Leaders' website at mmgleaders.com

Songwriting With Soldiers’ Maia Sharp and Charlsey Miller

We LOVE Songwriting with Soldiers, the fantastic non-profit that uses collaborative songwriting to connect veterans and military families.  We lead off the segment with the song “Strumming Hand,” written by a veteran and recorded by Maia Sharp.  Randy and Maia talk about the entire process that goes into Songwriting with Soldiers, and bring in Charlsey Miller, an LA-based singer and songwriter, to talk about their craft.