American Achievers

Season 2, Episode 3: Joe Galloway

In an interview conducted two years before his death in 2021, war correspondent Joe Galloway talks about the pivotal event that led him to a life in journalism, covering the Kansas murder case immortalized by Truman Capote, the landmark Vietnam War battle that profoundly marked him, producing the best-selling book that was adapted into the Mel Gibson movie WE WERE SOLDIERS, and the surreal night he spent on the same battlefield 28 years later.

Season 2, Episode 2: Spencer Tillman

Fox Sports football analyst Spencer Tillman talks about the missionary mother who shaped his view of the world, the lessons he learned while playing football for Oklahoma and in the NFL, the keys to his long career in broadcasting, and the motivational power of rejection and pressure.

 

 

Season 2, Episode 1: Steve Justice

Steve Justice, the former director of advanced systems development for Lockheed Martin's fabled Skunk Works, who recently came out of retirement to join Virgin Galactic, talks about the aircraft that captured his imagination, what he learned from his biggest failure, and the power of dreams, passion, risk, and thinking without artificial boundaries.

Season 1, Episode 23: Chee-Yun

Classical violinist Chee-Yun talks about the sibling rivalry that enabled her musical development in South Korea, how moving to America and studying at Julliard motivated her, the family crisis that kickstarted her professional career, and the special instrument with an intriguing heritage that brings her pleasure.

Season 1, Episode 22: Ben Gilbert

Ben Gilbert, one of the founders of Moe's Original Bar B Que, talks about why he quit his job to pursue his dream, the importance of a strong work ethic, and the lessons he has learned from turning one Colorado restaurant into a growing chain with locations in 14 states.

Season 1, Episode 21: Steve Bartkowski

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski talks about being selected number one overall in the 1975 NFL Draft, why he began to second-guess his decision to choose football over baseball, how losing his starting job changed him, why a 1980 playoff loss to the Cowboys still haunts him, and the athletic lessons that he has applied to the rest of his life.

Season 1, Episode 20: Adam Wright

Grammy-nominated songwriter Adam Wright talks about his early musical influences, the impact of his family legacy, the art of writing a country song, and how it feels to hear his work interpreted by artists including Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood and Alan Jackson.

Season 1, Episode 19: Charles Bolden Jr.

Part 2 of 2: Charles Bolden Jr. talks about the mentor who encouraged him to apply for the astronaut program, how his four Space Shuttle missions affected his perspective, the problematic deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, and his seven-year tenure as NASA Administrator.

 

 

Season 1, Episode 18: Charles Bolden Jr.

Part 1 of 2: Retired General Charles Bolden Jr. talks about navigating around a cultural roadblock to win an appointment to the Naval Academy, the influence of his educator parents, and the lessons he learned as a Marine aviator and test pilot on the way to outer space.

 

Season 1, Episode 17: Jamil Dada

Banker and civic leader Jamil Dada talks about his privileged childhood in Pakistan, why he defied his parents to pursue a new life in the United States, the defining life lesson he took from his grandfather, and what he has learned from battling stage four cancer.