Podcast appearances and mentions of Scott Miller

What does courage look like under fire? In captivity? In command? In service? This edition of Long Blue Leadership was recorded on location at the U.S. Air Force Academy's 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. We've explored these questions with our guests and captured the conversations for you. Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist for the Air Force Academy Association and Foundation, hosts this special episode featuring voices shaped by combat, crises and lifelong service. Their message to cadets is clear: Leadership is earned through character, and character is forged in hard moments. - Seg. 1: Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and NCLS cadet director, respectively, set the stage for this year's NCLS and for the podcast. - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel "DT" Del Toro on courage in times of crisis. - Seg. 3: Task Force Hope developer and facilitator Maj. Tara Holmes on preparing future leaders to handle crisis before it happens. - Seg. 4: Former POW Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. - Seg. 5: Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb on how character breeds courage. All of our guest's lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service.     CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS:  - Host, Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist, United States Air Force Academy Association and Foundation  - Seg. 1: C1C Jaime Snyder, NCLS Cadet Director; Lt. Col. Mark George, NCLS Officer  - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sargent Israel Del Toro  - Seg. 3: Maj. Tara Holmes, Task Force Hope  - Seg. 4: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64  - Seg. 5: Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb   Ted Robertson 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd annual National Character and Leadership Symposium. I'm Ted Robertson, multimedia and podcast specialist for the Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, coming to you from Polaris Hall located here at the United States Air Force Academy. This year's symposium centers on the theme Courage to Lead in the Profession of Arms: Combat and Crisis-tested Character, where attendees and cadets will explore how courage in all its forms shapes leaders when uncertainty, fear and consequence are real. Our coverage will start with the Center for Character and Leadership Development's Lt. Col. Mark George and NCLS director, Cadet 1st Class Jaime Snyder. They'll set the stage not only for NCLS, but for today's coverage. Then we'll talk with four key leaders speaking at the symposium, including Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Torro on keeping courageous during times of crisis. We'll also talk with Task Force Hope developer and facilitator, Maj. Tara Holmes, on preparing leaders to handle crisis before it happens. Then, former POW, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier, USAFA Class of '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. And finally, Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb, on how character breeds courage. All of our guests' lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service. So I want to bring in our first two guests to help, as I said, frame the discussion today. We're going to dig in to learn what this is all about and sort of the “why” behind it. Cadet Jaime Snyder, 2026 NCLS director. Cadet Snyder, you've helped lead the organizing of the National Character and Leadership Symposium — 33rd year for this, as you know, and part of that work, you've trained cadets and permanent party. I'm going to ask you to explain permanent party, all of which helps strengthen your own public speaking and leadership communication skills. You want to kind of expound on that a bit? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:20 Yes, sir. So a part of my role being in NCLS is to, one, provide the guidance, the support and resources on the cadet side to succeed. But what really makes NCLS special is that we integrate permanent party with cadets. So oftentimes me, in supporting and training permanent party, is giving them cadet perspective, because while they're over here and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, we're over there in the Cadet Wing, and I can be the mediator between both parties. Ted Robertson 2:46 Let's talk a little bit about permanent party. What does that term mean? Who does that describe? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:52 Oh yes. Permanent party describes the civilian and military faculty that works in the Center for Character and Leadership Development that assists with the execution of NCLS — the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Ted Robertson 3:05 How big is the team behind this event every year? C1C Jaime Snyder 3:08 It's kind of complex where we'll get search cadets. We'll get a large number of volunteers, approximately around 300 from the Cadet Wing. Internal staff consists of 50 cadets who work it throughout the entire year, and around 50 staff members who are permanent party who work in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. Ted Robertson 3:29 I want to bring in next Lt. Col. Mark George, who is the experiential and training division chief and NCLS program director, the very fortunate man that gets to work for some incredibly talented cadets. Col. Mark George 3:43 That is absolutely true. Thanks to for having us on. Cadet Snyder has done an outstanding job leading this team. I came into this a little bit late. You know, we've had some reorganization here at the Academy, and after some shuffling, I got the honor and the privilege to take over NCLS while the planning was well underway. So my job was to just make sure this train kept rolling, that people had the resources that they needed, the top cover they needed. And as Jamie said, he was training me as a permanent party member to make sure that I had the cadet perspective. And then, you know, we were moving this ball forward as we got to this event. Ted Robertson 4:23 So coming up in the podcast we'll get to the sort of “why” and what's at the core of NCLS. Colonel, let's start with you. What is National Character and Leadership Symposium designed to do for cadets?   Col. Mark George 4:38 Sure. The National Character and Leadership Symposium — NCLS — is designed to bring exemplars that embody the core values and the traits that we want cadets to have when they become leaders on Day 1 and inspire them to a lifetime of service.   Ted Robertson 4:57 Cadet Snyder?   C1C Jaime Snyder 4:59 We definitely see at USAFA, there is a clear correlation with NCLS and character development. One thing we want cadets to get out of NCLS is to further develop leaders of character who are going to join the fight in the Air Force and Space Force, and that's why I see the epitome of NCLS as it's an opportunity to hear people's perspectives as well as learn from it and apply it to their daily lives. Ted Robertson 5:24 Gentlemen, this year's theme focuses on the courage to lead in the profession of arms. Cadet Snyder, we'll start with you. How did that theme come together, and why is it especially relevant for cadets right now? C1C Jaime Snyder 5:40 With our current structure at USAFA, we've had some implement of change. We recognize that the future war conflict is more prevalent than ever, and that it's important for the cadets to understand that we're changing the way we approach training, as well as what we're learning in curriculum. So this NCLS was an incredible opportunity to discuss courage when leading in the profession of arms, but furthermore, courage and crises-tested character. Which is what we're trying to further push along with what we do in training as well as what we teach in leadership. Ted Robertson 6:15 You make good decisions when your character is strong. You make those decisions with integrity when your character is intact and it's strong. Would you agree with that, Colonel? Col. Mark George 6:25 Absolutely. And I think Cadet Snyder hit the nail on the head that we really want the cadets to understand that the environments that they're stepping into are going to require that courage to do hard things. In my day, like we didn't necessarily think about the fight in that way. You know, we were kind of stovepiped in. And these cadets, whatever environment they may be stepping into, the next conflict is going to require a lot, a high demand of them, and their character is their foundation for that. Ted Robertson 6:59 One of the things you can say about this event is that it brings together voices from combat, crisis, athletics, academia and industry. How intentional is that mix, Cadet Snyder, and what do cadets gain from hearing such different perspectives on leadership and character? C1C Jaime Snyder 7:18 I think by hearing different perspectives, you get to see how universal courage is. When we say courage, it's not just one thing, it's also moral, social, spiritual. And by looking at different versions of courage, you can understand that there's different ways to actually apply courage. Understanding that courage is not the absence of fear, also knowing that courage is not simply being a confident individual. That it's more complex than you may define courage, and so you can then apply it that way — by looking at different perspectives. Ted Robertson 7:53 Colonel, I'll address this one to you as well. Col. Mark George 7:56 Sure. Courage — we're talking about courage here, and there's a heavy focus on the combat side with this year's speakers. The thing that sticks out to me is that courage always involves a decision to do the hard thing. And that's what all of our speakers brought this year. They're showing how in different environments, whether it's in a prison cell in Hanoi or up on the Space Station or — there's a hard decision and the right thing is sometimes pretty obvious, but it doesn't mean it's easy. It does not mean it's easy to do. And so courage always involves a decision to do the right thing. Ted Robertson 8:39 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 8:40 What he said I find to be very true — understanding that courage is not simply doing something physical, but also in a leadership role, especially — we're talking to cadets who are going to soon be commissioned officers. It's important to know that you need to make the right decision on and off the battlefield. Ted Robertson 8:58 So from your perspective as a cadet — and this one is just for you, Cadet Snyder — what does it mean to help shape an event like NCLS while you're still developing as a leader yourself? C1C Jaime Snyder 9:10 What I've seen through NCLS is taking the time to relax. Don't focus on the future and focus where you're at right now, and that's character development. So don't let the pursuit of tomorrow diminish the joy today. We all have this aspiration to graduate, throw our hats in the air, Thunderbirds fly over. But right now it's important to focus on character development as that's going to be important as future officers. Ted Robertson 9:35 That makes 1,000% very clear sense. But I do want to ask you, less than 100 days from the day you toss your hat — you're giving me a big smile right now — talk about how that feels right now for you. C1C Jaime Snyder 9:47 It's incredible, and a part of it is less daunting, because I can say this institution has really prepared me to commission, and so it's more liberating than daunting for me. Ted Robertson 9:58 Col. George, I'm going to direct this one straight to you, and this is an ask of you from the leadership perspective: How do we events Like NCLS fit into the broader effort to intentionally develop leaders of character here at the Academy. Col. Mark George 10:14 So I get the honor of leading the experiential and training division in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. So we're all about creating experiences and those opportunities for cadets to have different types of environments where they'll learn about character. And right now, NCLS is an opportunity to listen to where people's character was tested, how they overcame it. And then we also have different events that we try to put the cadets in where we'll actually test their character. And that could be on the challenge tower, it could be through our character labs where we're having discussions. NCLS is a huge part of that, because the planning cycle is so long. Ted Robertson 10:59 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 11:00 Yes, sir. One thing I wanted to add on to that is with NCLS, one thing that makes this event the most unique experience that I've had is the fact that we get to engage in meaningful dialog. This isn't a brief. This is an experience for everyone who attends. I've had the opportunity to talk to Col. George's son, who aspires to possibly come to the Air Force Academy. So I don't want to say this is just for cadets, but it's also a promotion tool. And understand that what we do at NCLS is very important. And anyone who wants to attend can come and see what we're doing and how important it is.   Col. Mark George 11:33 I want to thank you for that, by the way. He looks up to you, and that meant a lot.   Ted Robertson 11:37 That's pretty visionary stuff. That's touching the next generation. That's fantastic. All right, this is for you both. When cadets look back on NCLS years from now, what do you hope they're going to remember feeling or being challenged to do differently?   C1C Jaime Snyder 11:56 There is a very strong human component to NCLS, and with that, there's a human experience. Understanding that we're getting speakers and we'll see their bios that they're incredible. They have incredible stories of making the right decision when tensions were high, and getting to hear their stories and understand that they ultimately were no different than we are. Some of them were Air Force Academy graduates. Some graduated from the Naval Academy, West Point, other colleges, but they were young, 20-year-old people like we were as cadets. And so getting to understand where they're coming from, human experience is vital to NCLS, and how do we grow and understand where they're coming from? Ted Robertson 12:38 Col. George? Col. Mark George 12:39 Yeah, I think what I would want the cadets to remember is how these speakers made them feel. You're right, you won't remember every nugget of wisdom that was said. I just had the opportunity to talk with Gen. Scott Miller, and he was an incredible leader. And I feel like everything he was saying was gold. I wish I'd been able to write it down. But he really makes you feel like you understand just how important your role is going to be as a young leader. And when you come away as second lieutenants from this place, you've had incredible opportunities and now you're stepping out in the real world. I would think I want the cadets to remember that like, “Hey, what I do matters, and how I lead is very important to getting this mission done.”   Ted Robertson 13:24 Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and cadet in charge of the 33rd NCLS. Congratulations on the event. Well done, and thank you for spending time here with us on the podcast today. Hearing from both the cadet perspective and the senior leadership behind NCLS makes one thing very clear: This symposium is intentionally designed not just to inspire but to prepare future leaders for moments when character will be tested. And that brings me to my first featured guest, a man whose life story embodies what combat and crisis-tested character truly means. Israel “DT” Del Toro, welcome to the podcast. It's an honor to be with you here at the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Toro 14:18 Thank you, Ted. Thanks for having me. Good to see you again.   Ted Robertson 14:21 Yes, it's not the first time we've gotten to spend some time together. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:24 It's always great to talk to people, try and spread the word of the whole spark and the promise of my dad. Ted Robertson 14:30 The spark and the promises are the two things that really stood out to me about that interview — your heart and your soul man, from a very, very early age. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:39 You know, losing my dad at 12, and then a year and a half later, losing my mom to a drunk driver, and being the oldest, you know, having to now kind of step up to be, like, the parent figure to my younger siblings. It was challenging.   Ted Robertson 14:55 Out of all of that, you wound up as a retired — you are currently a retired senior master sergeant. You took responsibility for your siblings, as you say, after you were orphaned as a teenager, and ultimately in the service combat-wounded airmen, and you survived catastrophic injuries against incredible odds, and that did not keep you down. One of the things that you did was you became an Invictus Games gold medalist. You're now a national speaker, and you talk a lot about resilience and purpose.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:27 Yes, sir. Yeah, Invictus, I won gold in shot put. It was pretty awesome. You know, everyone was just going nuts. Ted Robertson 15:37 You kind of make me feel like that was a soul-feeding, motivating time for you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:42 It was. At that time, I was probably one of the senior guys, kind of. Obviously, I was one of the senior guys, wounded guys on the team, and so a lot of people looked up to me. And sometimes I wish — people would say, “Man, it's great. You're such trailblazer.” You're sometimes like, “Man, I just want to be one of the guys. I just, I just want to be No. 10.” You know, everything's all done, and no one's focusing everything on me. But it's a burden that I'm willing to carry on to try and continue to help people.   Ted Robertson 16:19 I want to linger here in your background a bit, because it's more than just impressive. I think impressive is pretty trite to describe what your background is. Let's start with before the Air Force and before combat, and just how your life demanded responsibility at such a young age. And what I want to ask is, how did stepping up for your family shape the leader that you became? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 16:40 Well, I contribute that totally to my dad. I truly do. My dad was there. My dad, you know, I went everywhere with my dad. My dad — you know, he came from Mexico to this country, and he gave up a lot. You know, my family in Mexico is very wealthy, their ranchers and all that. He came here with nothing. And he always used to tell me, he's like, “Don't ever be envious of someone that's successful. Learn from them. Ask them questions.” He also used to tell me, “If you don't succeed, it's no one else's fault by yourself. Don't blame where you came from, where you grew up from, the situation. It is only your fault.” So my dad always had told me these little lessons and obviously the last lesson he gave me the night before he passed: Always take care of your family. And that just stayed with me, that kind of continued to shape me all throughout my life, all through my journey, at a young age to teenager to young adult to the military and to now, to this day, that really guided me to who I am. Now, it's like, I always hear people say, “Oh, man, I don't know if I can do it.” I was like, “Yeah, you can. You Just never know. You weren't ever put in that situation” I always believe — you always hear the fight or flight. “What are you gonna do?” I just fight, and I continue to fight. I just don't see the flight in me. And, you know, being the promise of take care of your family. Yes, I tell people, that originated with my family — my brothers and sisters. But throughout time it has evolved to now anyone I see that's having a hard time that needs maybe to hear a story or read a book or hear a journey to help them find that spark, because I see them now as my family. I see that as my family, as my mission now.   Ted Robertson 18:50 Let's stay with spark for a minute. It's just one of my favorite things that you've ever talked about. You're down, you've been badly burned, you're worried about whether you're going to survive, and a medic is helping you out, and he does something for you. He says something to you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 19:07 Yeah, you know, the medic — I always like to say, you know, yes, I'm Air Force. Those guys were Army, and we bust each other's chops. But, we're all brothers and sisters, and we're down range, you know? We take care of each other, we tell stories, we talk about our family. So these guys knew what had happened in my past with my family. So when I'm, you know, laying there, after I coordinate getting air, and I started the adrenaline going down, I started getting scared. I was having a hard time breathing, and I just wanted to lay down and sleep. The medic came and reminded me, “DT, remember what you promised your son, that you'll never let him grow without his dad. Fight for your son. You got to fight for your son.” And he's just making me yell it. You use anything you can to keep your guy motivated, to help that spark go, keep going. And that's what he did. He found that spark to keep me going, to keep me fighting until that medevac came and to get me on that helicopter, to the FOB, to the hospital, and then to eventually San Antonio. Ted Robertson 20:24 After that injury, that's when the fight shifted. You had to get off the battlefield. You had to get that out of your head. You had to start battling for your recovery. So what did courage look like when progress seemed like it was slow and at one point nothing was guaranteed? Israel Del Toro 20:46 Yeah, it, you know, when he had a shift from now being on the battlefield to now a different kind of battle and your recovery, your way of life — it's difficult because you have people telling you this is what your life's going to be. You know, being told that you're never going to walk again. You got to be in a hospital for another year and a half, respirator for the rest of your life and your military career is pretty much over. You know, I like to say there's two choices again: Who you're going to be? Are you going to take the easy path, which is, I'm going to sit in a chair, accept what they say, hate life, you know, curse the world. Are you going to take the hard path where I want to fight? I'm going to show you I can do this. I'm going to prove that I still have value, and I want to come out of this ahead and show not only my son but the rest of the world. You stay positive, you find that spark, you will come out ahead. Ted Robertson 21:48 All right, last question on your background, because we're going to roll all this into why you're here and what messages you want to share with the cadets and the attendees that are here. You did something I don't think most human beings would even think about after that ordeal that you had been through all those years, everything. You reenlisted, and it wasn't just a medical milestone. It wasn't because you could, it was a conscious decision. So what internal commitment had to come first for you to make that decision. Israel Del Toro 22:22 You know, I guess it was, for me it was I loved my job. I knew I could teach, I could be prepare these next guys to [be] the next generation operators. Ted Robertson 22:38 You've never stopped being committed. You've never stopped. So it brings you to NCLS. This is the 33rd year for NCLS, and when you speak to cadets here, what message do you want them to take away with them? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 22:53 I guess my message more is about that when you're in the military, no matter whatever happens to you, you still have a role to play. Even when I got hurt, did I miss being with my teammates? Yes, but now refocusing, OK, I'm here in this hospital, and I see all these wounded guys here as I guess I'm wounded also, but in my head is like I was still NCO in the Air Force. I still have a job to do. Yes, I'm hurt, I'm wounded, but the job of a leader is, no matter where you're at, is you try and take care of your troops. You try and make things better for them, even if you never see any of the benefits — that is your role. And so that's kind of what I want to leave with these guys that, you know, you're going to always have  challenges throughout your career, but you've always got to remember it's not about you, it's about the guys under you to take care of you. You know, I had a group of cadets yesterday and they were just asking me about leadership. So you know what? The best way to be a great leader is to earn the respect of yourtroops. If you demand it, you're not a leader, but when you earned the respect and they'll die for you, that is the greatest feeling. You know, I gave an example of one of the best moments I had after my injury, is after I got hurt, they sent my replacement, and he comes in and obviously introduce him to the scout team, to the Army company, individuals in leadership, and then the SF team, and all these guys I'm supporting. And the guy comes in like, “Hey, I'm here to replace DT.” And all of them, “You can't replace DT.” And I told that was the best moment that that's the best moment of respect, because I had Army guys saying, “He's our guy.” And that's the thing I told them, it's like, when you get to that moment when your guys say, “Nah, he's our guy,” I was like, “He can't replace him.” That is where you've truly earned the respect of your troops.   Ted Robertson 25:21 Israel, the only word that I can pull out of myself right now for your journey to describe it as “remarkable,” and you continue to give of yourself, and that's a wonderful thing. Your opportunity for a couple of final thoughts here, before we close out.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 25:38 Final thoughts, man, putting me on the spot, aren't you. I guess my final thoughts would be, you can't do it on your own. I'm not here right now, because I did it my own. I did it. I'm never gonna say that I did. I had friends, I had family, I had my wife that were by my side all throughout my journey to medical individuals. And I had those dark times, and I'm going down that spot, that rabbit hole, they were there to pull me out of it. So I think it's like, you know, don't try and do it on your own. We all need help. You know, the goal is, don't be prideful. There's a reason pride is one of the seven deadly sins. But, you know, ask for help, ask for advice. It's not going to hurt you. If anything, it will make you stronger and better. That's parting thoughts for the individuals listening to this. Ted Robertson 26:53 Perfect. Israel “DT” Del Toro, what a privilege to sit with you again. Want to say thank you from all of us for your service and continuing to lead by the example, which is a very rich and broad and deep example. Your story reminds us, and should remind us, that courage doesn't end with just survival. It always continues in service to others. Israel, thank you for being here.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 27:18 Thanks, Ted. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me again.   Ted Robertson 27:21 Israel's story reminds us that crisis and moral injury don't always arrive on a schedule, and that leaders are often expected to navigate those moments without ever having been taught how. That's where our next conversation takes us: into the intentional work of preparing leaders before crisis arrives. Maj. Tara Holmes, welcome to the podcast. It's great to have you with us as part of the National Character and Leadership Symposium.   Maj. Tara Holmes  27:46 Thanks for having me; glad to be here.   Ted Robertson 27:48 You are currently deputy chief of staff here at Headquarters USAFA. You are formerly chief of cadet development for CCLD, the Center for Character and Leadership development. By way of background, you flew.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:01 So I am a B-52 electronic warfare officer by trade, and then moved over into white jets. So instructed in the in the T-1 and I've kind of been in education and training for, I'd say, since about 2017.   Ted Robertson  28:19 You also hold a Doctorate in Business and Management, and you are an AETC master instructor. I will let you explain AETC.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:27 Air Education Training Command, that's one of the that's our majcom that's responsible for education and training, and they have a pathway to become a master instructor. So I finished the qualifications for that while I was in white jets and working over at Squadron Officer School.   Ted Robertson  28:46 So let's talk about your work with Task Force Hope. We'll talk about what Task Force Hope is, but you are and have been a developer and facilitator of Task Force Hope, which is a crisis and moral injury leadership workshop.   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:01 Task Force Hope is about providing immediately useful tools to our workshop participants to prepare them to lead through crisis, whether that is no-kidding combat related, or whether that's crisis on the home front, going through stuff in life that's really hard. We work through a series of key concepts and exercises, through storytelling and participant engagement that hopefully provides our participants some self-awareness and some tools to recover as it deals with their relationships.   Ted Robertson  29:39 We talked about this. There's a lot of nuance in what you're teaching these people. There's discernment in it. Who should you talk to, who you should trust with information that you want to share? Because ultimately, some of this becomes a pressure release valve, right?   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:52 Yeah, so one of the key concepts that we talk about is worthiness, right? I think often people feel pressure to not share what they're going through because they don't think their problems are worthy of attention, whether theirs or someone else's. That's one thing that we spend a lot of time on. And like you said, you know, who to who to share with, and at what level, some people are more free with sharing than others, and that's OK. So we work through some frameworks that help illustrate how people can kind of work through those levels, or gain some self-awareness and some clarity around where they fall. Something that is a, you know, deep seated secret for you, maybe something that somebody else is willing to openly share, they just don't see it as that big of a deal. So it's definitely about self-awareness and learning some tools to help relieve some of the pressure and drain on our batteries, as it were, that comes from holding these things in.   Ted Robertson  30:52 People who are attending the workshop are going to learn some things that they may not realize are draining their batteries. You're teaching them to discern what those are, and to be careful to try to avoid those. It sounds like an example to me of things that we don't realize we do, that drains us, right, instead of energizes us.   Maj. Tara Holmes  31:10 So we use the kind of metaphor of a smartphone, right? So there are things that drain us, that are big, that we're taking a lot of energy to conceal the hard things that we're dealing with in our life. But then there's, like, the pesky background apps, there's the things that are always running in the background of our lives that drain our energy without us really even noticing it. You know, so for me as an officer, but also as a mom and a spouse, some of the things that are always draining my batteries are my to-do list, the laundry app, maybe social media apps. Sometimes I've probably spend way too much time reading the news these days. That's kind of always on for me. We have these big things that are draining our batteries, but then we have these like small things that are constantly going on, right? So Task Force Hope is about recognizing what those things are for us and then making a commitment to ourselves to make this space and time to recover.   Ted Robertson  32:09 So that brings us to a really unique place. You kind of function at the intersection of character, leadership and development pretty much every day. So how do you define character when you're responsible for shaping it across an entire Cadet Wing.   Maj. Tara Holmes  32:24 To me, character is the essence of who they are. It is how you show up day after day. It's the habits that you have. That's why, when you do something out of character, people are able to say that. You know, we talk about building character strengths as building blocks towards certain virtues. And virtues is really excellence of character. So it's easy to talk about how to be an excellent athlete, or how to be an excellent academic, right? And that's one of our core values, is being excellent. Well, how do you have excellent character? It's really about leveraging your character strengths in a way that can lead you to be more virtuous, and that's the goal.   Ted Robertson  33:05 You've served, both operationally and as an instructor. Tell me how those things shape the way you think about preparing leaders not just to perform but to endure.   Maj. Tara Holmes  33:19 What comes to mind is the importance of training and building those habits. We're, you know, in the previous question, we talked about it in terms of character. You know, you can, you can use any kind of training. It's about building readiness, right? And being able to build those habits so that when you are faced with a challenge, you have a way to work through the challenge, right? That really came out for me, both operationally and as an instructor. So operationally, you rely on your training to get your job done, and then as an instructor, you're helping others build those habits so that one day when your students are faced with challenges, they can rely on their training as well.   Ted Robertson  34:01 We've talked a bit about your experiences and how they shape the way you think about preparing leaders, not just to perform but to endure. And now let's bring it right down to the direct connection between Task Force Hope and why you are here talking about this program to attendees at NCLS. When we talk about Task Force Hope, it's a program that is really designed to prepare leaders to navigate crisis and recover from both emotional and moral injury. What can you tell me about a gap that a workshop like this fills, that traditional leadership education sometimes or often misses?   Maj. Tara Holmes  34:38 Task Force Hope is preventative in nature. It's training to prevent people from letting their burdens get the best of them so that they can show up. They have the tools to show up fully charged when stuff hits the van. And not only that they do that for themselves, but then they can help their teammates or their subordinates also get there. It's self-awareness, because we all perform self-care differently, and what you need to recharge your batteries is different from the way that I would do it. So it's being intentional and having some tools to be able to identify what works for you and then how to make space in your life, and building that commitment to yourself, to make that space so that the next time that you face a crisis, you're not facing it at 10%, you're full up, you're ready to go. So it's that sustained self-care, if that's what you want to call it. And it's important to say that you know, in a 75-minute session, we're really doing our best to provide exposure to key concepts and these tools. What we hope is that people walk out with the start of something. It's not it's not the end of their work to be done.   Ted Robertson  35:54 How often do you hear the question, “Why didn't I hear this earlier in my career?”   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:00 Every workshop. Last year, after the workshop, we had a 1970-something graduate say that exact thing. For me personally, I had four people say something, you know, “Hey, I was a cadet here in '90-something, '80-something, 2000-something. And, you know, I really wish that I would have had this earlier.” So that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to bring it as early as we can.   Ted Robertson  36:26 OK, so our last question of our visit, if cadets take just one lesson from Task Force Hope and NCLs this year, what is your hope for that lesson to be?   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:39 My hope is that they're worth it. No problem is too big or too small to be dealt with, and like we talked about earlier, I think often people keep things to themselves because they feel like they shouldn't bother others, or there's their supervisors or their teammates with what's going on in their lives. And that's a drain. Like, that's a drain on the system. It eats up your energy, right? But our cadets are worth it. Whatever they're dealing with, big or small, is worthy of being addressed. I hope that's the takeaway, and that we all deal with things, right? We don't always know what other people are dealing with.   Ted Robertson  37:22 Maj. Holmes. Thank you for the work you're doing to prepare future leaders, not just to lead in moments of clarity, but to stand firm in moments of crisis. We appreciate you being here.   Maj. Tara Holmes  37:32 Thanks, Ted.   Ted Robertson  37:33 That focus on preservation, resilience and moral courage brings us to our next conversation, one shaped by combat, captivity and a life of service under the most demanding conditions. Coming up next, my conversation with Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier. Gen. Mechenbier, welcome to the podcast. It is a huge honor having you here, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 37:56 I hope you feel that way in a half hour so well,   Ted Robertson  37:59 Well, the conversation does promise to be interesting, because your life is… interesting. That was a pregnant pause, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:07 Yeah, I've enjoyed it. It's different.   Ted Robertson  38:11 Just to sort of frame things, you retired as a major general, and what year was that, sir,   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:15 2004   Ted Robertson  38:16 And you were USAFA Class of '64. You're a Vietnam-era pilot, having flown F-4s, you were shot down on your 113th combat mission, but that was you also your 80th over North Vietnam. OK, prisoner of war. Then for almost those entire six years following that, being shot down. You come with 3,600 flying hours across lots of different aircraft.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:42 I was privileged fly either for primary capability or for familiarization with 43 different airplanes.   Ted Robertson  38:49 And now you describe yourself as a lifelong advocate for veterans and public service.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:56 Well, yeah, I mean, I go to a couple prisons in Ohio, and “work with” is probably overstating my role. Veterans who are incarcerated for long periods of time. But my role is just to go there, spend some time, shoot the breeze with them, no agenda, no desired learning objective and let them know that somebody outside knows that they're there.   Ted Robertson  39:19 What I want to do is spend some time in your background. All right, I want to start with combat and captivity and how that tests leadership in its most extreme forms. And this is in course in keeping with the theme of NCLS here, what did character mean to you when circumstances were entirely beyond your control?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  39:38 The Vietnamese kept us in small groups of one and two or three guys. I mean, we never really until near the end and later on when we got a little organization. But it got very down, very personal, when at one time, I was in a cell with four guys, three Class of 1964 Air Force Academy graduates and one poor Oklahoma State University graduate, and amongst the four of us, we had a senior ranking officer. And of course, you got the same rank, you go alphabetical. And so we made Ron Bliss the senior ranking officer in our room. We had a communication system. We had guidelines that, you know, which were basically consistent with the code of conduct. You know, name, rank, serial number, date of birth, don't answer further questions. Keep faith with your fellow positions. That was the key. Keep faith. Never do anything that you'd be embarrassed to tell somebody you did.   Ted Robertson  40:34 What you're explaining is how different leadership looks, and even how you describe it, how different it is from command. So now it comes down to trust and accountability and courage, and how do those show up in those conditions?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  40:51 It was really a matter of, we always knew we were still in the fight. That was one thing that was with us, and so you just kind of conducted yourself with, OK, I'm not going to let myself be used. Now, we also knew that the more you resisted pushed back, the less likely they were to make you go meet an antiwar delegation or write a confession or do something else like that. So they tend to pick on, if you will, the low-hanging fruit or the easier guy to get to. So we always wanted to set the bar just a little bit out of their reach.   Ted Robertson  41:25 All right, having gone through all of that, it really can change people quite profoundly. So when you look back at it, what leadership lessons stayed with you long after you got out of captivity?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  41:39 In the movie Return of Honor. Capt. Mike McGrath, Navy guy, describes the guys in their ability to resist torture and do things. And that's what you learn. Everybody's got a breaking point. If mine's here and somebody else's is there, that doesn't make me better or worse than them. So you learn to appreciate the talents and the weaknesses. If you know the foibles, the cracks in everybody around you and not to exploit them, but to understand them, and then to be the kind of leader that that they need.   Ted Robertson  42:12 Sir, one of the recurring themes when you're discussing leadership with leaders right is knowing something about each of your people so that you can relate to them in a way that that works for them and motivates them.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:23 Yeah. Mark Welch, who's also a graduate and he is a chief of staff of the Air Force, always had a saying: “If you don't know what's going on, it's because you didn't ask.”   Ted Robertson  42:32 Now we're going to roll all that into your long journey between captivity and your visit here to NCLS this year. When you're speaking to the cadets at this year's event, what's your main hope? What do you hope they understand about courage before they even ever face combat?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:54 Well, courage is a reaction to a clear and present threat. Nobody knows how they're gonna — know he's gonna say, OK, I'm gonna go to Vietnam and I want to get shot down, and when the Vietnamese capture me, I'm going to give them a middle finger and I'm going to be the meanest bad ass and hardest-to-break prisoner. Yeah, it's how you respond to the to the immediate perception of bodily harm or being used or something else like that. So courage is, yeah, it just happens. It's not something that you can put in a package and say, “OK, I've got courage.” It's how you respond to the situation, because you might respond quite differently than what you think.   Ted Robertson  43:35 And I have to say, you presented your story and you delivered your message in kind of a unique way. You drew from some contemporary references, specifically three clips from a movie that you like, that I was curious. How did you sum up your entire life in three movie clips from Madagascar? How did you do that?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  43:57 Well, the three movie clips — when I watched the movie, I was looking at it, I have got two favorite movies. Madagascar is one, and the other is a Kelsey Grammer movie, Down Periscope. I mean, I think that is a perfect study in in leadership. But in the movie Madagascar, the premise was penguins can't fly, but yet it opens up with them applying resource, innovation imagination, and they eventually get this airplane to fly. OK, great. Success. Well, like everything else in life, things go wrong, and you got to have, No. 1, a backup plan, an exit ramp or a control mechanism for the disaster that's pending. So that's the second movie clip we saw. And then the third one was towards the end of the movie, when the crash landing has happened and the skipper asks for an accounting, and he's told that all passengers are accounted for, except two. And he says, that's the number I can live with. And the message there is, you go through life — you're going to have successes, but you're going to have failures, and failure has a cost, and it's not always pleasant, but that's OK, because that's life.   Ted Robertson  45:15 How do you explain how leaders can prepare themselves morally and mentally for moments they can't predict or control.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  45:25 Watch movies like Madagascar and Down Periscope. You know, there's a breadth of unintentional, if you will, guidance on how to be a leader, if you know where to look or if you're looking for it. I mean, that's part of the whole progress program at the Academy. Nobody's going to say, OK, here's a scenario, lead these resources to a proper conclusion. It's kind of like, OK, here's the situation. What do we do? What can we do? What can't we do? It's like, in my presentation, I talk about being able to run across a pasture in nine seconds, in 10 seconds, but if the bull can do it, you're in trouble. So you got to realign your thinking, you got to realign your goals and you got to realign the application of resources. So that's the leadership part, right there. It's a realization of what you can and what you can't do. It's a realization of what you, your people, your resources, can and can't do. It's a realization of what the technology you have at your disposal to do your mission can and can't do. So it's all about workarounds and being flexible. And then the other thing is, we live in a world that just seems to be everything's got a prescription and a protocol on exactly how to do everything. Doesn't work that way. You got to be able to go left and right. You got to be able to be a little imaginative.   Ted Robertson  46:42 What parting thought did you leave the cadets with?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  46:45 That failure is part of life. It's not death. And I'm part of an organization called American 300 — we go around and talk to young enlisted people and all the services to get them to understand that failure is a learning opportunity. It's not a dagger in the heart, and don't be afraid or ashamed to try, because if you don't, you'll never know what your true potential is. So with the cadets, we close with that last part from the movie Madagascar that basically said, OK, success comes with a price. Be aware and accept it.   Ted Robertson  47:23 All right, we've got to close it out here, but recap, if you would one more time that message that you want cadets to leave here with from having heard you speak.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  47:32 You are now a living, breathing, viable, productive part of our United States Air Force. You bring talents that are unique. Apply them, but understand that they're all very transitory, and you have part of a larger community. If you stick with a community rather than the “I did,” “I want,” I have,” you'll go a long way.   Ted Robertson  47:54 All right, and stepping outside of that very briefly for your final thoughts, what would you like to leave listeners with today.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:01 Be proud of the young men and women who are in our military now, not just those at the Air Force Academy. You know, our whole military structure has changed over the years. You know, it's a dynamic world. You got to be flexible and embrace change. We're so reluctant to change. Change is fine, except when you try to change me, is the old saying, but we all have to change. We have to be part of the world in which we live.     Ted Robertson  48:26 Gen. Mechenbier, I want to thank you from all of us for being here sharing those leadership lessons of yours and a lifetime of service that will continue to shape others — future leaders — for a very, very long time to come. We appreciate you very much.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:43 Thank you much.   Ted Robertson  48:44 Our final conversation brings us to leadership at the strategic level, where decisions affect institutions, alliances and the nation itself. Capt. Charles Plumb, welcome to the podcast today, sir.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  48:56 Thanks, Ted. Appreciate being here.   Ted Robertson  48:59 It is a privilege to have you. You retired as a Navy captain in 1991 and you have not slowed down, not one inch since. We're going to talk a little bit about the work that you're doing in some very interesting spaces. And what informs all of that. Naval Academy, Class of '64.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:15 Yep, the Great Class of '64.     Ted Robertson  49:17 The great —that's how you express class pride?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:20 Everybody knows the Great Class of '64.   Ted Robertson  49:23 So you are an Annapolis man.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:25 I am, in fact.   Ted Robertson  49:26 No doubt. And a pilot. You flew F-4 Phantoms, and you are a Vietnam-era pilot. You spent most of your time over North Vietnam. Sometimes you got sent to South Vietnam, depending on what was going on. But you said that you have flown 74 combat missions.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:45 Actually 74 and a half, Ted. I have one more takeoff and I have landings.   Ted Robertson  49:50 We should remember that, because it's a very important part of your life we haven't talked about yet. Since you got out of captivity, and then you retired a few years later, you became a published author and a speaker, and as such, you have been to every state, several countries, 5,000 presentations you've delivered in the leadership and character development space. Is there any reason you should not be here at NCLS?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:24 Well, I appreciate that. You know, this is a great symposium, and I'm really proud to contribute to it.   Ted Robertson  50:32 Captain, you are a former POW.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:36 Yes, I was shot down on my 75th mission and captured, tortured and spent the next 2,103 days in communist prison camps.   Ted Robertson  50:49 You said you got moved around a lot.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:52 We did. I was in six different camps, and some of those camps more than once. We never really understood why. We kind of suspected that they wanted to try to deny any fraternization with their guards, and they wanted to keep us on our toes, because they recognized that being military guys, we were going to have leadership, and we were going to have organization and community and we were going to organize, to fight them, and they didn't want that. So they moved us around and kind of shuffled us up, which didn't work. We always had a military organization in every camp that I ever went to.   Ted Robertson  51:31 You found ways to support each other. You found ways to have a leadership structure, even in captivity.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  51:39 We were all fighter pilots or air crews and most of us were we, you know, we had 10 Air Force Academy grads from '64 in five Naval Academy grads from '64 and so we had in a lot of other academy grads. I don't remember how many, but probably 70 total academy grads. And so, you know, we were, we were dedicated. We were lifers. We were, you know, we were very focused guys, which helped out a lot that we knew a lot about military leadership.   Ted Robertson  52:11 You grew up in the Midwest, and you married a Midwestern girl.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:15 I did, my high school sweetheart the day after I graduated from Annapolis, we got married in the chapel, and my buddies were holding up their swords as we came out of the chapel. So it was a beautiful day.   Ted Robertson  52:27 Let's go back to how you found your way to the Naval Academy.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:32 I was a farm kid from Kansas. Never seen the ocean, never been out of the four states of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri. Never been in an airplane, and I needed an education. Found that the Naval Academy offered me an education.   Ted Robertson  52:50 Outside of Air Force Academy circles, you probably already know that we think of, you know, salty sea dog sailors when we think of people going in the Navy, but you chose aviation.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:02 I did. As a kid, I would see these Piper Cubs fly over and I was fascinated by flight, and wondered if I'd ever be able to ride in an airplane. That was my thought when I was a kid. I didn't have any hopes of ever being a pilot, you know, let alone a fighter pilot. That was, I was out of the realm. Nobody, as I grew up, ever told me that I could do that, or I should do that, or, you know, it would be a hope of mine to ever pilot an airplane. But I went to the Naval Academy and found out that was one of the options, and I took advantage of that option.   Ted Robertson  53:43 Yeah, and it led you, of course, to over North Vietnam, and the rest is that part of your history   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:51 Launched on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk on my wife's birthday, the 5th of November, wave goodbye to her, and promised her I'd be back in eight months. I didn't make it.   Ted Robertson  54:04 Hard. Very hard story to hear. Let's talk about all of that informing your presentation now, again, 5,000 of these delivered in the leadership and character development space, but you talk a lot about, in your presentation — and you keynoted here at NCLS — the mental game side of this, the integrity, the choices that you have to make, and character that sort of frames all of that.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  54:38 My message to the cadets, and really to most of my audiences, is around challenge and adversity. And I tell the cadets that they work awfully hard trying to get a degree. They study, they go to computers, they read books all to get a degree. And what I point out to them is that more important than the degree that they will get from the Air Force Academy is a character that they build while they are here. That the integrity first, you know, is part of their motto. And if, in fact, they can learn and live that integrity, if they can learn and live the commitment that they have, if they can learn in and live these kind of ethereal things, the things that you can't measure, things you can't define, the things that, you know, that crop up in your in your mind, in the back of your mind, are more important than the lessons they learn from a computer. And so that's kind of my message.   Ted Robertson  55:49 You know, we're in a leadership laboratory here. The art and the science is character development. And you're talking about a kind of character that leads people to make good decisions and make those decisions with integrity in mind. How did that play into your captivity and getting you through that?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  56:09 You know, of course, I studied leadership at the Naval Academy, and I think that my period of experience more than teaching me anything, it validated what I had learned. And the whole idea — and I love the fact that this is called, you know, the Character and Leadership Symposium, because lots of times you see leadership without character, that's a negative kind of leadership. And if a leader does not have character, he doesn't last very long, and he's not very effective. And so if you can keep your character up front, the leadership can follow easily. And that's pretty much what we had in the prison camps. Several of the qualities of leadership that I promote are the things that almost came natural in a prison camp. First of all, we had to find a focus, a reason. We had to find, you know — and that was developed by our leadership in the prison camp. Return with honor — that was our motto, return with honor. And we all rallied around that.   Ted Robertson  57:22 So all of that said, you're standing here in front of a really big group of people as a keynote speaker, lot of cadets, mostly cadets, yeah.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  57:31 Now there were cadets. I'm speaking on a panel with Ed Mechenbier, my good buddy, and we're on a panel with mostly cadets. The first presentation, the keynote was by invitation only. So there were a number of civilians in the audience, number of cadets. There were Naval Academy midshipmen in my audience today. And we had ROTC people, and, you know, from all over the country. So it was quite a wide audience.   Ted Robertson  58:04 Quite a wide audience. And so if we were just focusing on what you leave with cadets, what do you want them to take away from their experience today?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  58:15 I hope they understand my message, that more important than the degree that they graduate with, is the character that they graduate with, and the importance of the integrity that that they learned here, because that was vital in the prison camp, is integrity. We had to have each other's back, and when we when we finally were released, we refused to be released until all the sick, injured and enlisted men had gone home, and it was a question of integrity, is a question that this is the right thing to do. It's not the easy thing to do. Largely, the integrity thing to do is not the easiest thing to do, and that's what I wanted to leave with the cadets. In addition, I want them to know that regardless of what situation they're in, they still have a choice, and their choice is the way they respond to the surrounding adversity situation that they're in.   Ted Robertson  59:21 An Annapolis grad of '64, Midwest kid from Kansas who makes it into the cockpit, and like you said, 74 and a half flights, then some time in captivity, then to a published author with thousands of presentations all over the country, and some in in other countries. What final thoughts would you like to leave today, sir?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  59:47 Well, you know, I think I've already told you, you know, you're a great interviewer, Ted, and I appreciate your questions. I think, finally, this whole idea of self-determination and I think that we all, and not just the cadets, but graduates and families and business people, families. You know that we all have choices, and sometimes when we deny the choice and give up that ability to make our life better for ourselves. And you know, we do it sometimes even when we're not even thinking about it. It's just automatic to blame somebody else for the problem, and in doing so, we give away that choice.   Ted Robertson  1:00:34 Don't give away the choice. Yeah, build that character and stick by your integrity all the time. Capt. J. Charles Plumb, what a privilege it is to meet you, sir. Glad that you're here at NCLs and keynoting like you are, and I do hope that our paths cross again.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  1:00:52 Ted, thank you very much. I appreciate your willingness to tell my story. Thanks for that.   Ted Robertson  1:00:57 You're welcome, sir. Thank you. Ted Robertson Close As we've heard throughout these conversations, courage isn't a single moment. It's a lifelong practice, from cadets just beginning their journey to leaders shaped by combat and crisis to senior commanders responsible for forces and futures. Character is tested when certainty disappears and it's revealed by how we choose to lead. That's the challenge of the National Character and Leadership Symposium, and it's a challenge that extends far beyond these walls. I'm Ted Robertson, thank you for joining me for our Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. This podcast was recorded on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.         The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Scott Miller. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business, Director of the Democracy and Capitalism Lab at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and Senior Fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs. As an economic historian, Miller examines the development of modern economic systems, particularly during period of instability and volatility. In this conversation, we talk with Miller about his background, his Financial Crises and Alexander Hamilton courses, his thoughts on the relationship between democracy and capitalism and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Scott Miller. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business, Director of the Democracy and Capitalism Lab at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and Senior Fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs. As an economic historian, Miller examines the development of modern economic systems, particularly during period of instability and volatility. In this conversation, we talk with Miller about his background, his Financial Crises and Alexander Hamilton courses, his thoughts on the relationship between democracy and capitalism and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

What kind of legacy are you really leaving behind to the next generation? Is it just financial, or something deeper? In this episode, Austin Wilson and Josh Robb are joined by Scott Miller of Refocus Coaching to talk through the true power of mentoring and why legacy is more than the simple wealth transfer. They discuss what mentoring is (and what it isn't), how wisdom is passed down across generations, and why intentional conversations matter more than ever in an age of information overload and AI. Tune in!Watch the video version, read the transcript, and find show notes at thewealthmindsetshow.com/s2e31Send in LISTENTER QUESTIONS via text➡️Download Free Resource: 8 Timeless Principles to Investing!

Author and journalist Scott Miller joins us to talk about his new book, LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE: Indian Revolutionaries in America and the Fight to Overthrow the British Raj. Interviewer: Whatcom County Executive, Satpal Sidhu .The Chuckanut Radio Players find… something? at the end of the rainbow in a brand new episode of As the Ham Turns. Our resident poet Kevin Murphy almost becomes comedically divine as he performs his original poetry…  Our musical guest is Bellingham-based singer, songwriter Liam Chamberlin of Advice from Friends. Hosted by Village Books' Co-Owners, Kelly Evert and Paul Hanson. Rich Donnelly announces.  Performed live at the Hotel Leo's Crystal Ballroom  in Bellingham, Washington, the City of Subdued Excitement. 

McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century. Get all the news you need by listening to WBZ - Boston's News Radio! We're here for you, 24/7. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Scott Miller, founder of Miller Estate Agents, for a no-holds-barred conversation about the reality of the estate agency industry, how it's changing, and what sellers and buyers should actually be paying attention to.Scott shares his journey from dropping out of university, to cutting his teeth in a corporate agency environment, becoming a top performer at Purplebricks, and eventually walking away from six-figure earnings to launch his own independent agency built around trust, service, and transparency.This episode pulls back the curtain on the parts of estate agency most people never see — from upsells and awards, to commission pressure, portals, and the growing role of AI.Scott explains how he entered the industry after leaving university, starting out at a family law firm–linked estate agency.Over four years, he learned prospecting, valuations, and negotiation in a highly corporate environment — gaining volume experience but also seeing the limitations of the model.

As demonstrators openly debate whether violence is justified to resist the Trump administration, we step back to ask: Have we been here before?  This episode traces a largely forgotten chapter of American history – from the Haymarket Riot to anarchist assassinations, government crackdowns, and the birth of the FBI and the ACLU – to show how cycles of political violence and state power have shaped the American left for more than a century. The story reveals how moments meant to spark revolution often end by transforming the country in ways no one intended. For this story – in addition to speaking with dozens of protestors, modern day anarchists, community organizers, and historians – we also read these books, which we highly recommend: The President and the Assassin by Scott Miller The Republic for Which It Stands by Richard White American Colossus by H.W. Brands The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin Luigi Galleani: The Most Dangerous Anarchist in America by Antonio Senta and Sean Sayers And if you're interested in Scott Miller's work, he just released a new book called Let My Country Awake: Indian Revolutionaries in America and the Fight to Overthrow the British Raj CREDITS: This episode of Reflector was reported by Andy Mills and Ethan Mannello. It was produced by Eli Cohen and Matthew Boll. Music for this episode was composed by ⁠Cobey Bienert⁠⁠⁠ and Peter Lalish Opening music is Gnossiennes No. 1 by Satie Reflector artwork by ⁠⁠⁠Jacob Boll⁠⁠⁠ To become a Longview subscriber you can visit us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: ⁠⁠GROUND.NEWS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lone explorer confronts a force that fractures identity, memory, and destiny itself. In a place where time refuses to behave, survival depends on facing what you were, what you are, and what you may yet become. Time Trap by Frank Belknap Long. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.Discovered another 5 star rating and review today on Audible from Laura Van Wormer. “Scott Miller's narration of old science fiction short stories is just wonderful. Of course, so is the material! Everyone from Ray Bradbury to HG Wells to Lovecraft to Asimov to Jack London and on and on... But there are also the one-timer sci-fi short-story writers that are relatively unknown and Miller provides a little background on them all. Extremely well done. Bravo, Scott Miller!”Thank you for that awesome review Laura. We don't care where you listen, we're just glad you're here and if you want to give give us a 5 star review, if you think we deserve it, we would appreciate it.This is a different kind of time travel story. Frank Belknap Long, a master of weird fiction, explores what happens when time itself turns predatory. Let's do a little time traveling of our own, to the Winter 1948 issue of Planet Stories magazine and discover this eerie tale on page 109, Time Trap by Frank Belknap Long…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Across unimaginable scales of time and space, a young explorer risks everything to prove that intelligence can bloom in the most unlikely conditions. When his search for reason turns into an accusation of harm, the fate of two civilizations hangs on what it truly means to be rational.Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeNewsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyFacebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/time-trap-by-frank-belknap-long/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When technology enters politics, human instincts collide with inhuman logic. What begins as a clever shortcut toward power escalates into a reckoning no backroom deal can control. Electronic Landslide by Clyde Hostetter. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.More 5 star reviews on Apple Podcasts, this from JCMargerison on Apple Podcasts US. “Best of all Worlds. No Sci-Fi podcast content or context compares to LSF (Lost Sci-Fi) and no one does it like Scott Miller. He doesn't just read the stories. He tells them.”Thanks JC! Your reviews make a difference and we would love it if you would you give us 5 stars and a glowing review, if you think we deserve it, wherever you listen.Clyde Hostetter makes his debut on the podcast with one of just two stories he published during the golden age of science fiction. His first appeared in 1958, and today's selection comes from the February 1960 issue of Future Science Fiction, page 110, Electronic Landslide by Clyde Hostetter…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, An intelligence from beyond Earth arrives convinced it has found salvation for its dying race. What follows is a terrifying collision between certainty and misunderstanding, where survival depends on knowing what it truly means to belong. The Invader by Alfred Coppel.Buy Me a Coffee - https://lostscifi.com/coffeeNewsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/Rise - http://Lostscifi.com/riseX - http://Lostscifi.com/xInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyFacebook - https://lostscifi.com/facebookYouTube - https://lostscifi.com/youtube❤️ ❤️ Thanks to Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 SueTheLibrarian, Joannie West, Amy Özkan, Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 TLD, David, Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous Listenerhttps://lostscifi.com/podcast/electronic-landslide-by-clyde-hostetter/Please participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sponsored by: FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations.Episode Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Scott Miller—broadcaster, storyteller, and creator of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, a show heard in more than 190 countries and ranked #1 in 33 of them. Scott opens up about his extraordinary life story: getting his start in radio at 16, becoming Iowa's youngest weekday TV sports anchor, surviving a devastating divorce, enduring the loss of his beloved wife just 113 days after their wedding, and nearly giving up on life entirely.Instead of surrendering to tragedy, Scott rebuilt his world. He found new love, moved to Costa Rica, and launched a science-fiction podcast that has now surpassed three million listens and revived dozens of classic vintage sci-fi stories for a global audience.This conversation explores resilience, reinvention, the healing power of storytelling, and the unexpected ways life gives us second—and third—chances.Links & Resources:* The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast: lostscifi.com * Explore the full archive of classic sci-fi storiesRecommended For:Listeners interested in personal transformation, storytelling, grief and healing, podcasting, creative reinvention, and the enduring power of vintage science fiction. Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe

Why Most Podcasters Quit —And How to Build A Podcast That Lasts w/Scott MillerScott Miller is the host of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, a science fiction podcast that has been #1 in 33 countries, with listeners in more than 190 countries and over 3 million listens. He helps podcasters build sustainable growth and create shows designed to last.Links:https://lostscifi.com/https://www.instagram.com/lostscifiguyTags:Content Creation,Entrepreneur,Entrepreneurial Mindset,Ex-Patriot (Expat),Podcaster,Podcasting Tips,Podcast Marketing,Reinvention,Storytelling,Why Most Podcasters Quit —And How to Build A Podcast That Lasts w/Scott Miller,Live Video Podcast InterviewSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rss

Why don't woodpeckers experience head concussions after all that vigorous pecking on trees with their beaks? Dave Robinson summarizes a November 6th research paper. Leslie Moise reads a poem she wrote about woodpeckers. Then, why does a December 4th paper claim that volcanoes might be responsible for the Black Death pandemic (that killed up to half of the European population in the 14th century)? Finally, Scott Miller narrates a story about the birth of a black hole, written by AI to sound like a fairy tale. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio Music (the 'Pineapple Rag' by Scott Joplin ; 1908) is modified from a public domain version performed by Vinheteiro in 2022.

12-16-2025: Wake Up Missouri with Jen Bukowsky, Stephanie Bell, and Producer Drake

fWotD Episode 3145: Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 14 December 2025, is Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons.Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons is a three-part episodic side-scrolling platform video game developed by Ideas from the Deep (a precursor to id Software) and published by Apogee Software in 1990 for MS-DOS. It is the first set of episodes of the Commander Keen series. The game follows the titular Commander Keen, an eight-year-old child genius, as he retrieves the stolen parts of his spaceship from the cities of Mars, prevents a recently arrived alien mothership from destroying landmarks on Earth, and hunts down the leader of the aliens, the Grand Intellect, on the alien home planet. The three episodes feature Keen running, jumping, and shooting through various levels while opposed by aliens, robots, and other hazards.In September 1990, John Carmack, while working at programming studio Softdisk, developed a way to implement smooth side-scrolling in video games on IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs), which at the time was the province of video game consoles or more game-focused home computers like the Commodore 64. Carmack and his coworkers John Romero and Tom Hall, along with Jay Wilbur and Lane Roathe, developed a demo of a PC version of Super Mario Bros. 3, but failed to convince Nintendo to invest in a PC port of their game. Soon afterwards, however, they were approached by Scott Miller of Apogee Software to develop an original game to be published through the Apogee shareware model. Hall designed the three-part game, John Carmack and Romero programmed it, Wilbur managed the team, and artist Adrian Carmack helped later in development. The team worked continuously for almost three months on the game, working late into the night at the office at Softdisk and taking their work computers to John Carmack's home to continue developing it.Released by Apogee in December 1990, the trilogy of episodes was an immediate success. Apogee, whose monthly sales had been around US$7,000, made US$30,000 on Commander Keen alone in the first two weeks and US$60,000 per month by June. The first royalty check convinced the development team, then known as Ideas from the Deep, to quit their jobs at Softdisk. The team founded id Software shortly thereafter and went on to produce another four episodes of the Commander Keen series over the next year. The trilogy was lauded by reviewers due to the graphical achievement and humorous style, and id Software went on to develop other successful games, including Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993). The Vorticons trilogy has been released as part of several collections by id and Apogee since its first release, and has been sold for modern computers through Steam since 2007.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:42 UTC on Sunday, 14 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Ivy.

It takes three to fill in for Tom – John Cantrell, Scott Miller, and Matt Reardon; man passes out in Oval Office during press conference about Ozempic; man who threw sandwich at federal agent found not-guilty; this week's blue wave across America; is this the Golden Age we were promised; Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's redemption arc; Scott Miller discusses the future of school referendums; Tesla shareholders approve Elon's $1 trillion pay package.

An unsuspecting family hosts Earth's first Martian visitor… only to discover he's been locked in their upstairs bathroom for hours. Curiosity turns into panic as they wonder what—exactly—he's doing in there. What's He Doing in There? By Fritz Leiber. That's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast.A warm welcome to our newest newsletter subscribers—Mark in Amsterdam, Ellen in Scotland, Emily in England, Kamil in Slovakia, Tony in California, and Ed in Cleveland! We're glad you're here. Every issue brings you free vintage sci-fi, no ads, plus plenty of extras. We'd love to hear what you think—drop us a note anytime at scott@lostscifi.com. You'll find a link to subscribe in the episode description and at the very top of LostSciFi.com. Newsletter - https://lostscifi.com/free/More 5 star love on Apple Podcasts (US)! This one comes from Zippoflask, who writes:“A bright light amid the dark miasma of today's narrated fiction. After searching for a good wholesome and imaginative starring narration, it is wonderful to come upon the beacon that is Scott Miller's voice and story contributions. I hope he will continue to do this for a long, long time. And I wish both he and his family the best of health!”Thank you, Zippoflask—your review made our day.And now a question for all of you: what would happen if the tens of thousands of listeners who enjoy the show every week took a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen? We're pretty sure it would launch Lost Sci-Fi straight to the moon… maybe even past the stars.During his lifetime, Fritz Leiber produced an astonishing range of unforgettable science fiction—brilliant, bold, and always a step ahead of his peers. You don't earn six Hugo Awards, three Nebulas, two World Fantasy Awards, two British Fantasy Awards, a shelf of additional honors, and the prestigious SFWA Grand Master title unless you consistently deliver greatness.But Leiber also had a playful side, and some of his most enjoyable work comes from those lighter, offbeat tales. Imagine cracking open the December 1957 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction, flipping to page 69, and suddenly finding yourself in the middle of a very unusual family dilemma. What would you do if you were in their shoes?What's He Doing in There? By Fritz Leiber…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, Two men cross into a mysterious fourth-dimensional world in search of a rare element that could save their own civilization — or destroy another. But the moment they arrive, they discover they are not the only ones with a hidden agenda… and not everyone plans to return alive. Shadow World by Ray Cummings. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLostSciFiPodcast❤️ ❤️ Thanks to All Our Listeners Who Bought Us a Coffee$200 Someone$100 Tony from the Future$75 James Van Maanenberg$50 MizzBassie, Anonymous Listener$25 Someone, Eaten by a Grue, Jeff Lussenden, Fred Sieber, Anne, Craig Hamilton, Dave Wiseman, Bromite Thrip, Marwin de Haan, Future Space Engineer, Fressie, Kevin Eckert, Stephen Kagan, James Van Maanenberg, Irma Stolfo, Josh Jennings, Leber8tr, Conrad Chaffee, Anonymous Listener$15 Every Month Someone$15 Someone, Carolyn Guthleben, Patrick McLendon, Curious Jon, Buz C., Fressie, Anonymous Listener$10 Anonymous Listener$5 Every Month Eaten by a Grue$5 Denis Kalinin, Timothy Buckley, Andre'a, Martin Brown, Ron McFarlan, Tif Love, Chrystene, Richard Hoffman, Anonymous ListenerPlease participate in our podcast survey https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/gNLcxQlk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that the earth broke a seven-year pattern in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere last year? Instead of increasing by 2.3 ppm per year (as it did from 2017 to 2023), CO2 levels in 2024 rose by 3.5 ppm! A 52% jump. Dave Robinson opines on the importance of the 'CO2 greenhouse effect' vs. land use management on climate disasters like storms, flooding, high temperatures, water scarcity, and sea level rise. Then, Leslie Moise introduces Rocky, the three-legged horse that has captured the world's attention. She reads a poem she wrote about Rocky and the people who are trying to help him. Finally, Scott Miller tells us about the planets, constellations and meteor showers we can see in the night sky in November. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio

Ever since Millionpodcasts.com named Export Stories Podcast as #6 of the Best International Trade Podcasts, I thought it might be nice to invite the #2 podcast to be our guest.  They are known as The Trade Guys podcast with Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch. What we decided to do was record a joint podcast.  It was so much fun talking to them, and you will learn a great deal – I promise.  So here are the three of us, chatting up a storm.I hope you enjoy this episode. After you've listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

How can we shift our thinking in order to break a pattern? And how can we take positive action to make transformative changes in our lives? That's the focus of Scott Miller's new book, “Master Mentors Vol. 2.” It examines key insights from 30 of the world's most transformational leadership thinkers – including Seth Godin, Susan Cain, General Stanley McChrystal and more – and provides simple steps to implement the same insights in your own life.  In today's episode, Scott joins me to talk about the most valuable lessons he's learned from his own mentor, the concept of transformational insight, the subtle nuances between self-worth, self-esteem and self-confidence, why vulnerability is a key element of leadership, and more. “I think the power of transformation has the power for you to see yourself differently. It has the power for you to challenge your paradigm, your mindset, your belief system, to say, gosh, I always thought about gratitude in this way, but now I'm gonna think about gratitude in this way. Or I thought about what's next for me or my business model. They're personal and professional. I think it's really intended to help kind of shake you to say you've been in this pattern of thinking this line of behavior and just shaking a little bit to say, is that serving you well? Is that serving those around you?” – Scott (06:03) Top 3 Takeaways  A mentor can be anyone. “I don't think you have to know or be in an intimate relationship, professional relationship with your mentor at all,” Scott says. It doesn't matter that you can't meet with them for one-on-one guidance; a mentor is anyone who helps you understand how to improve your life, and in the age of podcasts and YouTube, you can get that wisdom in a variety of ways.  Try to assume positive intent. Everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes even the most well-intended words come out wrong. A person's words say more about them than they do about you.  Self-worth is inherent and unchanging. “Self-esteem and your self-confidence ebbs and flows based on your sense of self and the kind of relationships you're in and the things that you do that you value or don't value,” Scott says. “But your self-worth cannot be changed and no one else can change it.” In This Episode (01:13) Why you don't need to meet your mentor to benefit from their wisdom (05:21) Scott's definition of a transformational insight (07:14) The practical applications of insights, and using them to transform your life (11:30) Bobby Herrera's life-changing bus ride (22:50) Self-worth vs self-esteem vs self-confidence (31:51) “Your future truth should be your present.” (36:03) BJ Fogg and the power of tiny pattern-breaking habits Resources & Links Billy Samoa  https://billysamoa.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BillySamoaSaleebey/ https://twitter.com/BillySamoa https://www.instagram.com/billybelieve/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjQ9RSxYqDS4_VxBHNyQJw https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/ https://billysamoa.com/podcast-archive/ https://billysamoa.com/video-carousel/ ⁠https://billysamoa.com/blog-with-sidebar/⁠ Scott Miller ⁠https://www.scottjeffreymiller.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottjeffreymiller/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmillerj1/⁠ Mentioned ⁠https://tinyhabits.com/book/⁠ ⁠https://bobby-herrera.com/⁠ https://www.franklincovey.com/speakers-bureau/sean-covey/ This is an encore episode and was originally published on August 26, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Restoration Pros Unplugged, host Clinton James sits down with Scott Miller, founder of The Growth League, to unpack his incredible journey from rookie franchisee to independent restoration owner and now successful business coach.Scott shares how he built a top-performing restoration business, scaled it, and sold it, all while learning the hard lessons that most owners don't figure out until it's too late. You'll learn:- The financial blind spots that keep owners from true profitability- How to motivate your team with performance-based pay and shared goals- Why today's restoration market demands in-home sales training and strong intake calls- The top mistakes that kill business value before an owner tries to sellWhether you're running a franchise, operating independently, or thinking about an exit, this episode is a goldmine of real-world wisdom for restoration entrepreneurs.-----Learn more about The Growth League:https://www.thegrowthleague.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmiller1/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-growth-league/https://www.youtube.com/@TheRestorationCoach-----Want to grow your restoration brand and generate more water jobs with expert marketing?Book a free strategy session with our team at Water Restoration Marketing:https://www.waterrestorationmarketing.net/schedule

Mary Williams introduces us to the Spotted Lanternfly, an insect pest that attacks a wide range of tree and shrub species. The invasive pest was first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014, but is now spreading south and west, including Kentucky and Indiana. Then, we hear a portion of the 'Big Picture Science' podcast of Sept. 8, 2025 about researchers trying to decipher language in sperm whales. The episode ends with J. Scott Miller telling us what planets, stars, constellations and meteor showers we can see in the month of October. Thanks to the SETI Institute for permission to rebroadcast their podcast 'Big Picture Science'. Here is the full podcast: https://radio.seti.org/episodes/animal-alphabets. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio

This week we summarize and supplement a July 31 article in 'The Atlantic' magazine called "Every Scientific Empire Comes To An End: America's Run As The Premier Techno-Superpower May Be Over." (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2025/07/science-empire-america-decline/683711/). We discuss repressive regimes that have stifled scientific achievement in the past, and compare that with what is happening in the US now. The show ends with a survey of the September night sky by Kentucky astronomer Scott Miller. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio Music is 'Magic in the Garden' by Rafael Krux (freepd.com).

What happens when retirement comes sooner than you planned? Whether it's due to job loss, burnout, company changes, or caring for a loved one, an unexpected retirement can feel overwhelming. But it can also open the door to new opportunities and a more meaningful second half of life. In this bonus Halftime Huddle episode of The Wealth Mindset Show, Tony Hixon and Scott Miller break down the common challenges people face when retirement arrives earlier than expected!For the show notes, transcript, and video version, visit thewealthmindsetshow.com/s2e19Send in LISTENTER QUESTIONS via text➡️Download Free Resource: 8 Timeless Principles to Investing!

Hosts: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles  Guests: William A. Reinsch & Scott Miller (Hosts of The Trade Guys podcast), moderated by Evan Brown  Published: September 2, 2025  Length: ~45 minutes  Presented by: Global Training Center

Watch the full video episode now on Spotify. We welcome back our favourite TV vet, Dr Scott Miller. Scott talks us through dog travel safety in the car, why grass seeds are more dangerous than you think, how to check your dog's heart rate, and the simple ways you can care for your dog at home so you don't need as many trips to the vet. Dr Scott tests Team OMD's knowledge, with embarrassing results. Before that, Seann shares a fun dog fact, chat turns to starring in adverts, and we read your brilliant listener emails - from giving your dogs neck bones to chocolate kisses and heartbreaking goodbyes.  The pet bereavement website Sara refers to is: ⁠https://friendattheend.co.uk/⁠ 00:00 Intro00:57 Seann's fun dog fact03:20 Jack the house tramp05:14 Jack in the park06:48 Nina from Animal Aid and the Greyhound Racing ban proposal09:53 Listeners messages10:38 Seann and the banking ad12:40 Sara and the Australian limit your drinking ad13:57 Listener email – neck bones15:43 Listener email – chocolate kiss and saying goodbye18:02 Jack saying goodbye to three of his dogs19:12 Intro to Dr Scott Miller19:30 Your special OMD Pure Pet Food discount code21:30 Dr Scott and the documentaries he's working on23:51 Dogs car safety research26:06 How the weight of your dog 10x in a crash28:04 Why it's important to restrain your dog in cars and the dangers30:52 Motion sickness in dogs and what to do33:20 Why dogs can now watch TV34:13 The dangers of grass seeds38:12 How knowing about your dog's biology can save on vets bills39:45 Dr Scott tests Jack, Seann and Sara42:00 Does Dr Scott let his dogs kiss him on the mouth43:00 Bye Scott44:00 Jack's childhood car safety story47:35 People asking Seann for dog advice49:50 End of the show Watch the full episode from 7pm Wednesdays here on Spotify and on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OMDpod⁠ Follow us on Instagram: @omdpod | @juniperomd  This episode is brought to you by Pure Pet FoodGet your exclusive 40% Oh My Dog! discount here: ⁠https://www.purepetfood.com/ohmydog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of The Best You Podcast, Nick sits down with longtime mentor and friend Scott Miller and his 15-year-old son Thatcher for a refreshingly honest conversation about parenting. Scott and Thatcher have just released a book sharing 30 raw insights into his experiences as a father—complete with mistakes, missteps, and meaningful lessons. At the end of each chapter, Thatcher shares his own candid thoughts, giving us a rare glimpse into how parenting choices feel from the child's perspective.If you're a parent in the thick of it, this episode and book is for you. If you're a soon to be parent and want to get a jumpstart on some best practices, then tune in. Or if your kids have grown up and you want to learn how to transition to more of a friend to them, then tune in, too. This conversation is equal parts heartwarming, humorous, and profoundly insightful.What You'll Learn:● What it's been like for Scott and Thatcher to write this book together● How to find the balance of “controlling” vs. “responsible boundaries” as a parent● How to raise respectful kids (even when it's hard)● How to raise gentlemen in an increasingly ungentlemanlike world ● Tools and exercises you can do with your own family like “tech-free Sunday,” how to come up with core values as a family● How to teach your kids financial responsibility 

We welcome back our favourite TV vet, Dr Scott Miller. Scott talks us through dog travel safety in the car, why grass seeds are more dangerous than you think, how to check your dog's heart rate, and the simple ways you can care for your dog at home so you don't need as many trips to the vet. Dr Scott tests Team OMD's knowledge, with embarrassing results. Before that, Seann shares a fun dog fact, chat turns to starring in adverts, and we read your brilliant listener emails - from giving your dogs neck bones to chocolate kisses and heartbreaking goodbyes.  The pet bereavement website Sara refers to is: https://friendattheend.co.uk/ Watch the full episode from 7pm Wednesdays here on Spotify and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OMDpod Follow us on Instagram: @omdpod | @juniperomd  This episode is brought to you by Pure Pet FoodGet your exclusive 40% Oh My Dog! discount here: https://www.purepetfood.com/ohmydog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Miller, PA, is the author of The Most Dangerous Man in Washington—a gripping memoir of courage, conviction, and the moral cost of doing the right thing when the world punishes those who dare to care. A former pediatric physician assistant and founder of Miller Family Pediatrics in Washington State, Scott became nationally known during the COVID-19 pandemic for being the lone voice of dissent, defying “State Mandates”, fighting against hospital protocols, and aggressively administering early treatment protocols when few others in the country would. In 2021, Scott's license was suspended for refusing to conform to state-sanctioned protocols. The State of Washington called his actions misconduct. His patients called him a miracle. Today, Scott continues to speak out on behalf of those injured, medical whistleblowers, and people who believe that truth should still matter in medicine. Scott Miller GiveSendGo | https://www.givesendgo.com/G3C1F Book | https://www.amazon.com/MOST-DANGEROUS-MAN-WASHINGTON/dp/B0DQ4VJWCD/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Health Solutions Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/health_solutions_shawn_needham/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@healthsolutionspodcast Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/HealthSolutionsPodcast Moses Lake Professional Pharmacy Website | http://mlrx.com.com/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MosesLakeProfessionalPharmacy/ Shawn Needham X | https://x.com/ShawnNeedham2 Shawn's Book | http://mybook.to/Sickened_The_Book Additional Links https://linktr.ee/mlrx

Michele Pettinger and I were introduced by a former boss of mine. She's on a big comeback and aiming to qualify for Boston at CIM and have her name drawn in the lottery for Western States this December. During this episode, sponsored by Previnex, we talk about:How we connected through someone I used to work for that she grew up with - thank you, Scott Miller!The fact that she grew up in a house with runners which is how she found the sportMaking her way from the Midwest to CaliforniaTraining for and running her first marathon in San Diego after collegeHow she ran a marathon before running a half marathon Starting P3Running in 2009 to coach other runners Deciding to do her first ultra marathon Her Western States journey and how many tickets she's racked up without getting her name drawn for the race Getting hit by a car during a 20 mile run Chasing a BQ for every decade she can - next attempt is CIM in December Sponsor Details:- Previnex - Use code ALLYB for 15% off your first orderOther Links:- Michele's book, The Young Runner's Guide to Nutrition- THAT 5K Info and Registration (8/9 in Avon, IN)

RESOURCES- Join me in Lotus Rising Premium Coaching at danettecoaching.com- Grab your FREE Meditation bundle to elevate your health, relationships and abundance at danettemeditations.com- Feel lighter and more energized this summer with PURALITY HEALTH's Glutathione—your detox and metabolism ally. Grab the Buy One, Get One Free offer now at masterantioxidant.com/danettemay!CONNECT WITH DANETTEInstagram: @thedanettemayFacebook: Danette MayTikTok: @thedanettemayNEW TV Show on Youtube: @TheDanetteMayListen to The Danette May ShowRead my book: danettemay.com/embraceabundancebookGet The Rise book: therisebook.comWork with Danette: danettemay.comIn this episode of The Danette May Show, I sit down with Scott Miller—an entrepreneur who faced stage 4 cancer not once, but twice. What unfolded was not a story of battle, but one of surrender, radical healing, and deep transformation. Scott opens up about his past, from childhood trauma and entrepreneurial pressure to the moment he realized he needed to let go of everything he once clung to. We talk about what it really means to live from the heart, the power of intention, and how embracing presence—even in the face of death—can lead to peace beyond imagination.If you've ever questioned your purpose, struggled with control, or wondered what truly matters when everything is stripped away, this conversation will touch your soul. Scott's vulnerability and wisdom are a reminder that healing isn't just physical—it's emotional, energetic, and deeply spiritual. Tune in to hear how he redefined success, found inner freedom, and how you can begin your own journey from head to heart. This episode is a masterclass in courage, conscious living, and the transformational power of self-love.IN THIS EPISODE:(0:00) Introduction to Scott Miller's journey(3:07) Setting intentions with Scott Miller(5:18) Scott's early life and entrepreneurial drive(6:12) Reflecting on childhood and personal struggles(15:01) The first cancer diagnosis(22:02) Finding peace amidst pain(23:41) Life changes after diagnosis(23:50) Embracing present moments(25:24) Difference between strength and courage(28:05) A new purpose in life(32:41) Living with fear and gratitude(37:11) Final reflections and loveCONNECT WITH SCOTT MILLERInstagram:

What happens when someone retires with a solid financial plan but no purpose? In this bonus Halftime Huddle episode, Tony and Scott share the personal story that inspired Refocus Coaching and explore why the non-financial side of retirement matters more than most people realize.Read the full transcript, show notes, or watch the video at thewealthmindsetshow.com/s2e15Send in LISTENTER QUESTIONS via text➡️Download Free Resource: 8 Timeless Principles to Investing!

Open phones with a lot of talk on how people lived an earlier rustic style of life, later it is former pediatrician assistant Scott Miller, author of Most Dangerous Man in Washington - saved many during Covid, paid a high price.

On June 3rd, Dr. Marcia McNutt (President of the National Academy of Sciences) spoke on 'The State of the Science' in the U.S. According to Dr. McNutt 'America can't be great without great science – which is fundamental to U.S. economic growth, national security, and the prosperity and well-being of all our citizens. In my address, I hope to provide a clear picture of the current trends in the research enterprise, likely outcomes, and ways that the scientific community can respond to this new and challenging environment.' We will present the second half of her talk on our next episode. To hear the entire lecture (with accompanying charts/figures) you can watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENzD7eVtZA. We also hear from Scott Miller (physics/astronomy professor at Maysville Community and Technical College in Maysville, KY) about what sights we can see in the night sky in the month of July. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal

Christian and Danny say thanks, discuss home-field advantages and frivolous lawsuits, and remember Bruce Taylor and Scott Miller.Click here to support the production of Say Who, Say Pod.Say Who, Say Pod remains free for all. To ensure access to everything I write, join more than 2,000 others with a paid subscription to On Montlake. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onmontlake.com/subscribe

Hembo and Buster discuss the Chase Burnes' electric debut, the hit batsman crisis in baseball, what happened to Michael Harris II, what's holding Elly De La Cruz back, and their appreciation for Mookie Betts. Then, Tim Kurkjian talks about the A's putting a shovel in the ground in Las Vegas, All-Star Game voting, if the Mets or Yankees have bigger problems, Anthony Volpe's critics, and the passing of their friend Scott Miller. CALL THE SHOW: 406-404-8460 EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS 8:17 Hembo 33:51 Tim Kurkjian 55:34 Bleacher Tweets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hembo and Buster discuss the Chase Burnes' electric debut, the hit batsman crisis in baseball, what happened to Michael Harris II, what's holding Elly De La Cruz back, and their appreciation for Mookie Betts. Then, Tim Kurkjian talks about the A's putting a shovel in the ground in Las Vegas, All-Star Game voting, if the Mets or Yankees have bigger problems, Anthony Volpe's critics, and the passing of their friend Scott Miller. CALL THE SHOW: 406-404-8460 EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS 8:17 Hembo 33:51 Tim Kurkjian 55:34 Bleacher Tweets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben & Woods kick off the 7am hour with some thoughts on the suspensions that were handed down on Friday afternoon for Mike Shildt, Dave Roberts, and Robert Suarez, and we get to a very sad Shoutout To His Family for a friend in the local media. Then we get to "Don't (And DO) Do This" before we are joined by Craig Elsten who joins us each and every Monday morning! Listen here!

In this episode of the Rachel Hollis podcast, Rachel and her guests explore the nuances of effective leadership. The episode features insights from renowned leaders and authors such as John Maxwell, Lisa Bilyeu, Scott Miller, and Donald Miller. They discuss the development of leadership skills, the importance of intentional personal growth, and the impact of culture in organizations.Get your copy of Rachel's New Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold!00:23 Welcome to the Show!01:17 Mastermind Episode Introduction02:47 John Maxwell on Growth and Leadership13:36 Lisa Bilyeu on Adapting to Change21:50 Scott Miller's Journey with Franklin Covey23:14 Climbing the Corporate Ladder24:27 The Reality of Leadership26:02 The Importance of Culture27:08 The Role of Leaders in Shaping Culture28:24 The Challenges of Leadership Conversations32:04 Innovative Business Strategies During Crisis34:22 The Power of Storytelling in Business40:07 From Memoir Writer to Business Consultant41:52 Conclusion and ReflectionsSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelHollisMotivation/videosFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollisTo learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

Seth and Sean discuss the story in Scott Miller's book "Skipper" about Dusty Baker going rogue in the 2022 World Series, react to Chandler Rome's All 2000's Astros team, and preview tomorrow's Take-a-mania with a couple bad takes.

Seth and Sean discuss the story of Dusty Baker going rogue in the 2022 World Series from Scott Miller's book "Skipper," preview some candidates for tomorrow's Take-a-mania, and assess if Nick Caley can fix the Texans' offense.

Seth and Sean discuss the Astros losing a snoozer 3-0 to the Pirates last night, compare what DeMeco had to say about the O-Line to what Jalen Pitre had to say about them, go through the day's Headlines, dive into the story of Dusty Baker going rogue in the 2022 World Series from Scott Miller's book "Skipper," preview some candidates for tomorrow's Take-a-mania, assess if Nick Caley can fix the Texans' offense, if they'd do a hypothetical trade to bring Kevin Durant to the Rockets, if Kamari and Sting could be a top CB tandem this year, react to Saquon Barkley saying he might just retire out of nowhere at some point, talk with Clint Stoerner from The Drive (2p-6p) about what he saw at Texans OTA's and CJ Stroud's shoulder soreness, discuss the confusing state of the Inside the NBA show, talk about Framber getting the start this evening, and remind the fans to get out and vote for our Astros to get into the All-Star Game.

Send us a textMany aspiring authors feel a pull to share their wisdom—especially about something as universal yet challenging as parenting. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, Scott Jeffrey Miller offers a refreshingly candid perspective. Miller, an eight-time Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, recently co-authored "Parenting: Wrong Turns, Right Lessons" with his teenage son, Thatcher. For Miller, writing a parenting book wasn't just inevitable because of his professional background—it was a way to invite his children into “the family business” of authorship.Timestamp:00:00 Life Insights Through Reading  04:39 Author Mindset & Collab Writing  06:49 Public Life & Maturity  10:31 Teenage Son's Raw POV  14:32 Building an Author Platform  17:23 Truth About Publishers  21:13 Self-Publishing Journey  23:21 Self-Belief vs. Self-Promo  27:28 Define Your Publishing Why  31:26 Books as Messages  32:46 Growth Reflections  37:07 Rise of Shorter Books  39:59 Career on Course Wins  43:09 Unfinished Book Ideas  46:05 Real Feedback vs. Friends  48:43 Dad Moves & Parenting  51:57 Writing & Self-Incrimination Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS

On this episode from the Trade Guys, Bill Reinsch, Scott Miller, and Andrew Schwartz unpack the Geneva agreement between the U.S. and China to deescalate their trade war. They also look at the US-UK framework agreement and what lessons it offers for other countries looking to negotiate with the Trump administration. Originally aired on May 15, 2025.

Post-Dispatch podcasts page: https://go.stltoday.com/0hfn43 Please consider subscribing: https://go.stltoday.com/9aigz5 In the wake of three managerial firings before Memorial Day, author and longtime baseball writer Scott Miller joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss his new book, "Skipper: Why Baseball Managers Matter (and Always Will)". In his deeply reported work, Miller talks with managers, both current and past, to map the changing landscape of the role as front offices and analytics become more dominant and a perception grips the game that, as Miller writes it so well, lineups are being written for the manager not by the manager. With BPIB host and baseball writer Derrick Goold, Miller discusses the evolution of managers in the game from Sparky to Tony to Bochy, the traits that make a successful manager, and also how those traits have changed and adapted to a game driven more and more by data and run like the big business it is. The two baseball writers also explore what happens to game if, as one executive told Miller in his book, the hiring practices and analytics used in the game leave the majors "with a very homogenous group of managers." The managerial aspirations of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and others are explored as a way to avoid that. Miller has covered baseball for the New York Times, Bleacher Report, and many other outlets, and his book shows the depth of his understanding in the game and access to some of the great managers. He watches a Yankee game at the Boone house as Aaron manages; he spends time with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the job and with Hall of Fame-bound manager Dusty Baker at the vineyard. Miller also talks with former Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and gains welcome perspective on his tenure during a changing time for the role. Miller's book is available now. On Amazon. At a local independent bookstore like St. Louis' Left Bank Books. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a weekly production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.

This episode focuses on Major League Baseball, as the traditional Opening Day is set for shortly after this show's release. Despite having two games in Japan, most teams start now amidst a changing sports climate. The A's and Rays are playing this season in minor league ballparks. 10 teams are having their games broadcast and produced by MLB. Payroll disparity is at an all-time high. Despite this, attendance was up last season, and the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees drew fantastic ratings. Scott Miller has covered MLB for 30 years. For years, he wrote for CBS Sports and Bleacher Report. He is a frequent contributor to MLB Network Radio on Sirius/XM as well as San Diego Padres broadcasts. In this episode, Miller discusses the pending labor contract expiration and the ramifications of that. He also talked about the Rays and A's stadium dilemma,s offering potential solutions.

Steve and the crew react to Canadian historian and Christian apologist Wesley Huff's appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" and why it's evidence of God at work. Then, author and medical doctor Scott Miller joins the program to discuss the persecution he's faced at the hands of the COVID regime. In Hour Two, Theology Thursday is an in-depth conversation about Islam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices