The National Defense Radio Show

CEO of the Home Builders Institute Ed Brady

CEO of the Home Builders Institute, Ed Brady, joins us to talk about his organization and its unique partnership with the Home Depot Foundation. Both groups have partnered to create the Joint Trades Training Program. This program helps put military personnel into great careers once their Armed Forces commitments are complete. Randy and Ed discuss the needs for jobs and housing across the country and how the Home Builders Institute and the Home Depot Foundation are also working to solve those issues.

Son of “Peanuts” creator, Craig Shulz on The National Defense

We welcome the President and CEO of Charles M Shulz Creative Associates, Craig Shulz, to the program to discuss the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang. Charles served in the military in World War II, and Randy and Craig talk about how Charles’ military service influenced his comic strip and the new continuing series on the Apple TV+ “Marcy.”

“Jury Duty” Executive Producer Nick Hatton

We welcome the Executive Producer from our producer Nate's favorite summer show of 2023: Amazon's "Jury Duty." This documentary-style production of a fake civil trial in California where all participants, jury, judge, defendant, and witnesses were all actors except one jury member. We highly recommend this streaming series if you're looking for a hilarious and touching series on Amazon FreeVee.

Marriage Coach Chris Parsons

We welcome Chris Parsons, a marriage coach who has released his new book, “The Happy, Healthy Marriage Reset,” to help folks struggling to keep the love flowing in their marriage. Randy and Chris talk about the nature of active-duty military marriages during deployments and how the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in both strengthening or destroying some relationships.

Team Rubicon Mobilizing to Assist with Hawaii Fires

The National Defense welcomes back one of our longest-running VSO partners, Team Rubicon, and their President and CEO, Art delaCruz, to discuss the recent wildfires in Hawaii and how, while the recovery efforts for victims of the fires are still underway, the gray shirts of Team Rubicon already have boots on the ground in the islands to help survivors recover. Team Rubicon has helped to give veterans a continued mission during their non-active duty years, and Randy and Art talk about the unique challenges that this disaster has presented.

AARP’s Troy Broussard on PACT Act Scams on Veterans

We welcome Desert Storm veteran and Senior Advisor for AARP’s Veterans and Military Families Initiative, Troy Broussard, to the program to discuss the scourge of scams and fraud associated with veterans seeking benefits through the PACT Act. AARP issued a report on the nature of this new scummy plan that has tried to hijack benefits owed to our veterans and their families.

Nate Boyer Returns to The National Defense

We welcome back Green Beret and NFL vet Nate Boyer to the program to discuss his new reality series "Survive the Raft," based on a 1960s human thought experiment. Nine candidates sail for twenty-one days on the Acali II to test if personal interest will jeopardize the team's chance to win a fortune; they must complete mental and physical obstacles intended to splinter the team. Randy and Nate talk about the series and Nate's hosting role.

Chief Investigate Reporter for CBS News, Jim Axelrod

We welcome back CBS News’ Jim Axelrod and Jess Kegu for an update on the injustices affecting tens of thousands of veterans denied benefits on the basis of their sexual orientation. The Pentagon had not taken action to remedy the fall-out of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and now a lawsuit has been filed by veterans affected.

Ford’s Concept Car Archives Launching with Ted Ryan

The National Defense welcomes back one of our favorite guests from the Ford Motor Company, historian Ted Ryan. We talk about the opening of the new digital archives for Ford, especially detailing the history and the wide range of fascinating concept cars that have been designed by Ford engineers. Nate and Ted talk about a few of the really unique flights-of-fancy that had been developed. We hope you take some time to access this new treasure trove of documents and photos from our friends at Ford.

Olympian Alexi Pappas and “Bravey”

Nate Herron welcomes Olympian, actress, author, and all around “renaissance runner,” Alexi Pappas, to the show to talk about her new book adaptation for young adults, “Bravey.” Alexi and Nate discuss the origins of the book, her time attending the Olympic games as both an actress and an athlete and much more.