Host Randy Miller discusses topics of interest to veterans and interviews guests on a wide variety of topics.
We welcome the founder of the National Military Spouse Network, Sue Hoppin, to the show to talk about the incredibly important role of the military spouse in our Armed Forces. Sue and Randy discuss her own background, her plans for professional development, and the frustrations that military spouses can run into. Thanks to Sue for her and her husband’s work in serving our Nation and especially for Sue’s work in supporting the vital role of the military spouse.
We welcome one of the great musicians of the 20th century Jim Messina to the program to talk about his long-running music career, including his part in the duo Loggins and Messina. Loggins and Messina are returning to the Hollywood Bowl on July 15th and 16th in an incredibly special reunion show. Randy and Jim talk about all of the great groups that he has played a pivotal role in as well as what fans of Messina can look forward to in the future.
We welcome Bob Baer, an intelligence and security analyst for CNN, is one of the most accomplished agents in CIA history. Over several decades he served everywhere from Iraq to New Delhi and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal for his efforts. He is also the writer of four best-selling books, and has a brand new book that is really compelling: “The Fourth Man: The Hunt for a KGB Spy at the Top of the CIA and the Rise of Putin’s Russia.” This story is a must-read and the interview is a must-listen!
We welcome back one of our favorite comedic guests to the show, the incomparable Tommy Davidson to talk about his long-running career in Hollywood and TV and his role in the upcoming reunion of the tv hit series “Martin” with Martin Lawrence. Randy and Tommy talk about all of his great TV roles and characters, the reunion special coming up on BET+, as well as all the time he has spent on military installations and VA facilities across the world.
We welcome back actor Bryan Cranston to the program, along with his co-star in the new Paramount Plus production “Jerry & Marge Go Large,” Annette Benning to the show! “Jerry & Marge Go Large” is the true story of how an unassuming couple in a small town find a loophole in the lottery and recruit their fellow townspeople for a wild financial ride. Bryan and Annette also spend some time talking with Randy about our military and their future projects. Make sure to check out “Jerry & Marge Go Large” on Paramount Plus!
Annette Benning and Bryan Cranston Read More »
We welcome an incredibly fascinating individual in Skunk Baxter to The National Defense. Skunk Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and advised U.S. members of Congress on missile defense. Randy and Skunk talk about all of this and much more in this great interview.
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We welcome one of our favorite cable tv news presenters in Ashleigh Banfield. Ashleigh is the host of her own new show on News Nation with “Banfield” and she and Randy talk about her move to that network, the curiosity of the public’s interest in the Depp v. Heard trial, as well as some talk about the rest of what is going on in the world.
We welcome actor Lewis Pullman to the show to talk about his turn as Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd in the new film Top Gun: Maverick. Randy and Lewis talk about the process of making the film, his interaction with members of the U.S. Navy, and some thoughts on his great acting father, Bill Pullman. No fighter jet interview would be complete without civilians relating their stories of flying along with trained military pilots and how their bodies reacted to pulling Gs in a powerful plane.
In this segment, we welcome the Aerial Coordinator and Stunt Pilot for the smash hit Top Gun: Maverick, an ATP-certified pilot who worked with Tom Cruise to put together a curriculum for an acting boot camp for the cast of this film. Randy talks with Kevin about some of the behind-the-scenes work to put the practical effects into place for Top Gun: Maverick and a little bit about his own experience as a stunt pilot in Hollywood.
We welcome a unique veterans service organization to the program and the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Irreverent Warriors, Nate McDonald, to the show. Nate served in the Marine Corps as an intelligence officer and used his own experience to work for this group. Irreverent Warriors seek to link warriors together through therapeutic events across the country. We also work with other veteran organizations who provide services such as job placement, training, housing, service dogs and more. Their use of humor and dark comedy is bringing veterans together using that humor and camaraderie to improve their mental health and to prevent veteran suicide.
