Mission: Readiness Podcast
By Mission: Readiness
Mission: Readiness PodcastNov 18, 2020
Episode (084) - Sally Sampson, ChopChop Family
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, speaks with Sally Sampson, Founder of ChopChop Family. Together they talk about the importance of nutrition and ways in which Sally’s company is making cooking fun for kids and their families.
Visit the ChopChop website, www.chopchopfamily.org, to learn more and discover great recipes!
Episode (083) - Major General Johnny Davis, U.S. Army Recruiting Command
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Major General Johnny Davis, Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). Listen as they discuss General Davis’ career and what USAREC is doing to address the military recruitment crisis.
Episode (082) - General (Ret.) Larry Spencer, U.S. Air Force
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by General (Ret.) Larry O. Spencer, U.S. Air Force. General Spencer shares his journey “from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon” through incredible stories of his family and childhood, his chance meeting with an Air Force recruiter, and many other insights into his career from enlisted to four-star general.
After listening to this episode, you’ll definitely want to read General Spencer’s book, Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon.
Episode (081) - Lieutenant Colonel (Dr.) Bryant Webber, U.S. Air Force
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, welcomes Lieutenant Colonel (Dr.) Bryant Webber, U.S. Air Force. Dr. Webber has spent several years working with the CDC Department of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) studying Body Mass Index (BMI) and physical activity for military-aged members of the U.S. population. Listen in to learn more about his important research.
Show notes:
- Dr. Webber’s published study- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379722004238
- Unfit to Serve infographic- https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/downloads/unfit-to-serve-062322-508.pdf
- CDC Physical Activity webpage- https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/
Episode (080) - Administrator Cindy Long, USDA
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, talks with Cindy Long, Administrator of USDA Food and Nutrition Service. They talk about how the pandemic highlighted the importance of school nutrition and what the USDA is doing to improve the systems we currently have. Take a listen!
Episode (079) - Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, welcomes Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian back to the podcast. Since we last spoke to Dary, he’s remained busy with multiple projects, including advising the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Listen as they discuss the importance of nutrition policy and the role of food as medicine in our daily lives.
Additional Resources:
Episode (078) - Rear Admiral (Ret.) Fernandez “Frank” Ponds
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Fernandez “Frank” Ponds, U.S. Navy. Take a listen as Admiral Ponds walks us through his journey joining the Navy, and the reason behind his passion advocating for kids.
Episode (077) - Rear Admiral (Ret.) Andy Lennon, U.S. Navy
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Executive Director of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Andy Lennon, U.S. Navy. Together, they talk about how the Sea Cadets is preparing youth for successful futures in and out of military service.
To learn more about the Sea Cadets, visit https://www.seacadets.org.
To learn more about the Navy Mile on October 16, 2022, visit https://thenavymile.com.
Episode (076) - Dr. Dan Bornstein
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, host Brigadier General (Ret.) Rich Gross, U.S. Army, is joined by Dr. Dan Bornstein. Dan is a health and exercise scientist and Chair of the newly established Military Sector of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan. Dan has devoted his career to ensuring nilitary readiness through physical activity.
Episode (075) - Graham Younger
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross chats with the new Georgia State director for Council for a Strong America, Graham Younger. As the Georgia State Director for CSA, Graham will be working closely with Mission: Readiness members as well as members of our sibling organizations. Graham tells us about his background and his vision for our work in Georgia.
Episode (074) - Brigadier General (Ret.) Sandra Alvey, U.S. Army
In this episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross speaks with Brigadier General (Ret.) Sandra Alvey, USA, about her unique medical background and career in the Reserves. General Alvey is a member of Mission: Readiness' Nutrition and National Security Speakers Bureau, and speaks to the important connection between nutrition and what she has learned as a medical entomologist.
Virginia Nutrition & Food Security Event: https://bit.ly/39lGPP0
General Alvey's Op-Ed: https://bit.ly/3xM99U8
Episode (073) - Major General (Ret.) Michael Davidson
This week on the podcast, General Gross speaks with longtime Kentucky Mission: Readiness member Major General (Ret.) Michael Davidson, U.S. Army. General Davidson discusses the importance of reducing childhood food insecurity through the SNAP and WIC programs and recaps a recent virtual event he participated in with Kentucky nutrition experts. He also talks about books he has authored, and provides a preview of his upcoming book.
Episode (072) - Georgia Nutrition & National Security
Today on the podcast, you can listen to a recording from a virtual event that took place on March 23, 2022. This event focused on the link between nutrition and food security in Georgia and national security. Mission: Readiness member Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Ponds, U.S. Navy, led the discussion. He was joined by experts on child nutrition, food security, and food waste reduction in Georgia. You can learn more about the event by clicking here.
Episode (071) - Major General Kevin Vereen
This week, General Gross welcomes back Major General Kevin Vereen, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). MG Vereen discusses the importance of the Army’s recruiting efforts, how recruiting has been impacted by COVID-19, and USAREC recruiting efforts for 2022 coming out of the pandemic.
Episode (070) - Barry Ford
This week, General Gross talks with Barry Ford, the President and CEO of Mission: Readiness' parent organization, Council for a Strong America. Barry shares details about his upbringing, his career path, and his passion for our mission. He also looks ahead to what's in store for Mission: Readiness and our sibling organizations at Council for a Strong America.
Episode (069) - School Nutrition Association
This week, General Gross chats with Patti Montague, the CEO of the School Nutrition Association, representing more than 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Patti shares about SNA's work supporting school nutrition professionals, the programs SNA offers, and how SNA's members have responded to COVID-19.
Prior to the conversation, John chats with Jake Ferreira, who recently became Mission: Readiness' Interim National Director. They discuss Jake's new role, his background, and his recent deployment with the Coast Guard.
Episode (068) - Arkansas Nutrition & National Security
Today on the podcast, you can listen to a recording from a virtual event that took place on December 2, 2021. This event focused on the link between nutrition and food security in Arkansas and national security. Mission: Readiness members Major General (Ret.) Bill Wofford, USA, and Brigadier General (Ret.) Gary Profit, USA, participated in the roundtable discussion. They were joined by experts on child nutrition, food security, and food waste reduction in Arkansas.
Episode (067) - Ben Goodman Exit Interview
This week, General Gross chats with National Director Ben Goodman, who is saying goodbye to Mission: Readiness for a new opportunity in his home state of Maine. They discuss Ben's time at Mission: Readiness, why he was motivated to work on early childhood nutrition issues, the progress he's seen on early childhood and nutrition policy during his tenure, and special memories he's gained over the years.
Episode (066) - Reflections on a Significant Year for Post-9/11 Veterans
This year saw two symbolic events for the United States: withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. As we end the year, General Gross looks back on these milestones with three Mission: Readiness members with unique service experiences in the Post-9/11 era: Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Bradley, USAF; Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond, USA; and Brigadier General (Ret.) Dana Born, USAF. The panel shares perspective on their experience, how the world has changed, and how each continues to serve in retirement.
For more on the Lamia Afghan Foundation, visit Lamia.org.
For more on Home Base, visit HomeBase.org.
Episode (065) - World Wildlife Fund
This week on the podcast, General Gross chats with Alex Nichols-Vinueza, Program Manager for Food Loss and Waste at the World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading conservation organization. Alex shares about the causes and impact of food waste, WWF's global efforts to address food waste, their partnerships with schools, and how each of us can address food waste in our own lives. To learn more about WWF's efforts, click here.
Episode (064) - Fred Espinosa
This week, General Gross chats with Fred Espinosa, Interim Director of Food and Nutrition Services for the San Diego Unified School District. Espinosa discusses his work leading the effort to serve hundreds of thousands of students, the innovative ways the District provides students fresh and nutritious options, their food waste elimination tactics, and the challenges posed by COVID-19 and how he and his team have addressed them.
Episode (063) - Build Back Better Act
In a special edition of the podcast, the Mission: Readiness team joins with Council for a Strong America's Chief Research Officer Dr. Sandra Bishop to discuss the current child care crisis. Staff also discusses the status of child care provisions in the "Build Back Better Act" currently being considered by Congress.
Episode (062) - Brigadier General (Ret.) Jim Bauerle
This week on the podcast, Megan talks with Indiana Mission: Readiness Brigadier General (Ret.) Jim Bauerle, U.S. Army. He discusses the many issues he has advocated for at the Indiana General Assembly, including a Tobacco 21 effort in conjunction with Mission: Readiness. He also talks about his recent work advocating for hyperbaric oxygen treatment for veterans and other individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
Show Notes:
Mission: Readiness Indiana Tobacco 21 Letter
Press Release + Report from the TreatNOW Coalition
Episode (061) - Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tom Spoehr, USA
On today's episode of the Mission: Readiness Podcast, General Gross talks with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tom Spoehr, USA about his new report, Improving America’s Long-Term Military Recruiting Outlook, which provides an in-depth military recruiting analysis and spotlights worrisome trends pertaining to demographics, retention, and propensity to serve. General Spoehr and General Gross also discuss the role of civics and the value of modeling good behavior for our nation's youth.
Episode (060) - Major General (Ret.) Doug Raaberg, USAF
Today on the Mission: Readiness Podcast, Major General (Ret.) Doug Raaberg, USAF and National Director Ben Goodman dive into General Raaberg's first-hand experience eating in a West Virginia middle school cafeteria. General Raaberg illustrates what that farm-to-school lunch looked like and the vital role schools play in providing nutritious meals to kids.
General Raaberg also highlights his work as the Executive Vice President at the Air Force Association – featuring their innovative program, CyberPatriot – as well as his world record for the fastest nonstop flight around the globe with his B-1B bomber crew, which included Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah's Second Congressional District.
To learn more about the Air Force Association's work, go to afa.org and follow them on Twitter at @AirForceAssoc.
Episode (059) - Dr. Aly Goodman & State Directors
This week on the podcast, General Gross interviews Dr. Aly Goodman, M.D., M.P.H. She is a board-certified pediatrician, medical epidemiologist in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, & Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Commander Goodman discusses the CDC's recent study that shows childhood obesity increased during the pandemic, and possible strategies to address this trend.
Later, Megan talks to Council for a Strong America colleagues Michael Harlow, Ohio State Director, and Kim Russell, Maine State Director. Michael and Kim share updates on recent policy victories and events in their states, and discuss efforts to improve the distribution of healthy meals to children in Ohio and Maine.
Show Notes:
CDC/Mission: Readiness Graphic
CDC study on childhood obesity during COVID-19 pandemic
Episode (058) - Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Hertling
General Gross speaks with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling about his distinguished service, including as the first commander of the United States Army Center for Initial Military Training from 2009 to 2011. Hertling shares his firsthand account of how Basic Training needed to be overhauled to properly train new recruits impacted by a societal shift toward poor nutrition and inactivity. Hertling reflects on his service in the military, as a presidential appointee, and in the private sector, and details the national security importance of preparing all Americans for healthy lives.
Episode (057) - Dr. Marlene Schwartz
On this week’s episode of the podcast, General Gross chats with Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at UConn. Dr. Schwartz talks about the Center’s research work on nutrition and early childhood development, how child nutrition has changed in recent years, and her work on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Food Bank.
Epsiode (056) - Congresswoman Kim Schrier
This week on the podcast, Admiral Besal interviews Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08). Congresswoman Schrier is the first pediatrician to serve in Congress. They discuss the importance of establishing healthy habits early in childrens' lives and legislation the Congresswoman supports to address childhood hunger and malnutrition. They also talk about how federal nutrition programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can be expanded and improved.
Episode (055) - Jimmy Buckner, XHunger
General Gross chats with Jimmy Buckner, Founder of the Knoxville, Tennessee – based Scarecrow Foundation. Buckner discusses his organization's XHunger initiative, which mobilizes young people to volunteer and generate resources for local food pantries. Buckner talks about his addressing hunger on the local level, and his organization's plans to grow the XHunger model nationwide.
Episode (054) - U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales
Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) joins the podcast to talk about preparing the next generation for success. Gonzales speaks with guest host Rear Admiral (Ret.) Bob Besal, USN, about lessons from his upbringing, his distinguished service in the U.S. Navy, and the role child nutrition plays in securing America's future.
Episode (053) - Brigadier General (Ret.) Ed Gerhardt
Ed Gerhardt, a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and school administrator, stops by the podcast to talk about the importance of adapting and modernizing child nutrition programs. General Gerhardt also talks about his past nutrition advocacy in Kansas, and his work as President of the Kansas Museum of the National Guard.
Episode (052) - Dr. Parke Wilde
Dr. Parke Wilde of the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy joins the podcast to give an overview of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Dr. Wilde speaks with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman about the history of the program, how it works, new changes, and the impact that it has on children.
Episode (051) - Dr. Christina Hecht and Ken Hecht
This week, Jake and Megan talk with Dr. Christina Hecht and Ken Hecht of the Nutrition Policy Institute. They discuss the important work they are doing to improve nutrition programs and promote drinking water, and share their thoughts on how to advocate for these issues effectively.
Nutrition Policy Institute: npi.ucanr.edu/
Drinking Water Alliance: www.drinkingwateralliance.org/
Letter to 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: bit.ly/3ybm5zT
Statement on Thrifty Food Plan: bit.ly/3ybmqCF
Episode (050) - Rear Admiral (Ret.) Robert Kamensky, U.S. Navy
On the podcast this week, General Gross speaks with Rear Admiral (Ret.) Robert Kamensky, U.S. Navy. They discuss Admiral Kamensky's role as Chief Strategy Officer of Feeding San Diego, how Feeding San Diego has assisted families during COVID-19, and what it's like to live on a submarine.
Feeding San Diego: feedingsandiego.org/
Summer Meals Report Release: bit.ly/3ASRhFS
Episode (049) - Best Selling Author Mark Bittman
On this week's episode, New York Times best selling author and food journalist Mark Bittman joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "Animal, Vegetable, Junk." Bittman's new book examines the history of the human appetite and how farming and economics impact food consumption. General Gross talks with Mark about his long career covering the food industry, what he found while researching the book, and his thoughts on the future of food consumption in the United States.
Episode (048) - Darlena Birch
This week on the podcast, Megan talks to Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN, of the National WIC Association (NWA). Darlena discusses the NWA's advocacy priorities and the importance of increasing program flexibility and access. She also shares an update on NWA's upcoming efforts, including plans to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month in August.
Episode (047) - Policy Deep Dive: WIC
As part of a new policy "deep dive" series on the Mission: Readiness Podcast, active members and retired U.S. Navy Admirals Bob Besal and Casey Coane talk about the history of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and why it's so important for the future of America's strength and security.
Episode (046) - Chef José Andrés
Best of the Mission: Readiness Podcast – Chef José Andrés
Rebroadcast of General Gross's conversation with the chef and humanitarian
This week, a rebroadcast of General Gross's conversation last summer with celebrity chef and respected humanitarian, Chef José Andrés. General Gross spoke with Chef Andrés about lessons from his service in the Spanish Navy, leadership lessons from his work with World Central Kitchen, and more.
Episode (045)- General (Ret.) John Allen
On this episode of the Mission: Readiness podcast, General Allen and General Gross discuss artificial intelligence (AI), how it works, and the role of AI nationally and globally. They also discuss General Allen's recently released book co-authored with Darrell West, Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.
Episode (044) - Stephanie Slingerland, Kellogg Company
Stephanie Slingerland, Senior Director of Philanthropy and Social Impact at the Kellogg Company, visits the Mission: Readiness podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on Kellogg's philanthropic work to address hunger. Stephanie also talks with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman about the importance of adapting and modernizing federal nutrition programs, and the important role that school breakfast plays in helping kids succeed in the classroom.
Episode (043) - Donna Cryer
Donna Cryer, President of the Global Liver Institute, sits down with Ben Goodman for a discussion about liver health. Cryer speaks about the alarming global rise in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), severe liver inflammation and damage caused by buildup of fat in the liver. Donna explains the connection between obesity and NASH, and what the disturbing increase of the condition among children means for future health outcomes and military readiness.
Episode (042) - Rear Admiral (Ret.) Sinclair Harris
General Gross talks to new Mission: Readiness member and President of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), Rear Admiral (Ret.) Sinclair Harris, U.S. Navy. They discuss Admiral Harris' personal rules for success and NNOA's work to promote diversity and inclusion among the senior officer corps.
Visit the following for more information:
nnoa.org/
https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/rear-admirals-five-lessons-success.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CMy%20five%20lessons%20for%20success,your%20life%2C%E2%80%9D%20Harris%20said.
Episode (041) - Dr. Shelley Kimball
Ben talks to Dr. Shelley Kimball, Research Director for the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). They discuss the critically important work that MFAN is doing to support military families. Dr. Kimball also shares information about a new MFAN research report detailing how food insecurity impacts military families.
Episode (040) - Major General (Ret.) Bill Libby, Brigadier General (Ret.) Rob Carmichael, and National Director Ben Goodman
Mission: Readiness shares a recent conversation from the Mainely Matters Podcast, hosted by Brigadier General (Ret.) Rob Carmichael. General Carmichael interviews former Maine Adjutant General Bill Libby and Mission: Readiness National Director (and Maine native) Ben Goodman about the unique challenges rural families face in accessing early care and education.
Episode (039) - Michael Moss
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Michael Moss drops by the podcast to talk about his new book "Hooked." Moss' new book is a follow-up to his 2013 bestseller, "Salt Sugar Fat," detailing how the food industry formulates processed food to be more appealing and attractive to consumers. Moss speaks with General Gross about our biological response to certain ingredients, and why children may be most impacted by changes to the food industry.
Episode (038) - FARE CEO Lisa Gable & Former Adjutants General
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) CEO Lisa Gable sits down with Mission: Readiness National Director Ben Goodman to speak about the disturbing rise in food allergies and why trends could impact military readiness. Later, General Gross speaks with the former Adjutants General of Arkansas and Michigan, Major General (Ret.) Bill Wofford, USA and Major General (Ret.) Tom Cutler, USAF, about progress on a long-awaited Child Nutrition Reauthorization.
Episode (037) - Vice Admiral (Ret.) Manson BrownEpisode
On the latest episode of the podcast, retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Manson Brown speaks with Mission: Readiness Membership Director Jake Ferreira about his distinguished career in public service. Just in time for National Bike to School Day, Admiral Brown also discusses his love for cycling and bike ride (https://www.strongnation.org/articles/716-the-journey-is-the-destination) across America.
Episode (036) - CSA State Directors
In this episode, Megan talks with Council for a Strong America Illinois State Director Tim Carpenter and Colorado State Director Michael Cooke to learn about the critical work they are doing in their states. Michael and Tim discuss why they enjoy the work they do, provide updates on recent legislative activity, and share what they've been up to during quarantine.
To learn more, visit below.
https://www.strongnation.org/locations/colorado
https://www.strongnation.org/locations/illinois
https://www.strongnation.org/articles/1513-illinois-commission-recommends-simpler-better-fairer-support-of-early-care-and-education
https://strongnation.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/1317/d753eb5f-2f38-49ba-9953-b66fcc6c73c4.pdf?1619629827
Episode (035) - General (Ret.) Gene Renuart
General Gross talks with longtime Mission: Readiness Colorado member General (Ret.) Gene Renuart, U.S. Air Force. They discuss General Renuart's impressive military career, his advice for leaders, and his advocacy work with Mission: Readiness on early childhood education and nutrition issues.