So many of us confront immense trauma and tragedy in life, leaving us to cope with different levels of pain. Quite often this pain can outweigh our coping skills, setting us up for further disaster. We’ve learned through our own lives, the importance of getting the upper hand on this pain before it leads us down a path that is even more difficult to return from. We’ve also had the opportunity to meet and interview people from all over this country, with their own incredible stories of turning pa...
Jan 18, 2019•37 min•Ep. 79
Steve Sims started as a bricklayer in London. Today he's known as "The Real Life Wizard of Oz," who makes the impossible possible. He's the master concierge behind the magic of Bluefish, a mega-high-end concierge service. Once a best-kept secret to the ultra-wealthy, Steve's book Bluefishing has exploded his name through this country and into others. Now he's leaning into his escalated fame with his own style, and teaching others how less is more when it comes to building true success. In this e...
Jan 10, 2019•58 min•Ep. 78
Combat veteran and wounded warrior Justin Constantine has overcome immense challenges in his life. Catastrophically injured by a sniper's bullet, Justin owes his life to the heroic actions of fellow warriors. With the care of numerous medical professionals and the love of his wife, Justin continually taps into his own positive mindset in order to live his life to the fullest. Today Justin is an inspirational speaker, author, corporate coach and leadership consultant. He is the Chief Business Dev...
Jan 03, 2019•56 min•Ep. 77
Carolyn Moor faced the unthinkable when a Valentine's date with her husband ended with a tragic accident that left her a widow. Left all alone to raise their two little girls in the wake of this tragedy, Carolyn navigated her grief and the complex challenges of transitioning from wife to widow as best as she could. It was then that she realized the lack of resources and support for the hundreds of thousands of widows in this country. When she wound up interviewed by Oprah Winfrey as part of a sh...
Dec 19, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 76
Sean Valigura admits he was in really bad shape when he left the military. It took about 15 years for the Navy veteran to begin truly healing from his unseen wounds the way he'd healed from his physical ones. He tried to end his own life twice before he found is new path and purpose - or it found him. Today Sean is the chairman and executive director of Operation Valor, a non-profit organization serving as a fund-raising arm for other 501(c)3 organizations dedicated to serving veterans. What sta...
Dec 06, 2018•52 min•Ep. 75
Carmen Tarleton is a survivor. She is also a speaker and author who uses her own story of horrific trauma at the hands of someone she once loved as a means to help others. Burned, blinded, and blessed, is how she sums up her tragedy to triumph story that inspires people all over the country. Now, 11 years after this attack, and just when she allowed herself to believe some of her worst times were behind her, Carmen has suffered another devastating setback in her continuing recovery. In this shor...
Nov 30, 2018•19 min•Ep. 74
We are excited because today we have a great message from Kent Clothier on Faith, Hope and the power of giving back. Kent Clothier was on one of our very first episodes and can listen to his inspirational story at www.americansnippets.com/007. Real Estate Worldwide and Kent Clothier have a non-profit called The Time Is Now Foundation and the also started the 1,000 layaways project. This is something they've been doing the last 5 years during the Christmas season. Kent started the #1000 Layaways ...
Nov 22, 2018•15 min•Ep. 73
Tom Varano is a performance speed painter and inspirational speaker who uses art and entertainment as a medium to connect with audiences all over this country. His artwork, though extraordinary, is secondary to his purpose of inspiring people to live their dreams, and pack their lives with passion. Tom's own story of being raised by a father who gave his all to his child and of the incredible events that both shaped his life and allowed him to impact others, is truly remarkable - made more so by...
Nov 15, 2018•48 min•Ep. 72
Upon leaving the US Navy in 2017, Ephraim Mattos became heavily involved in humanitarian and rescue operations inside Northern Iraq against ISIS while volunteering with the humanitarian organization Free Burma Rangers. On June 2, 2017 he was shot by ISIS while conducting a rescue operation in ISIS-held territory inside West Mosul as a part of the Free Burma Rangers team. The team gained international attention when a video of the rescue went viral on the internet. Ephraim is the author of City o...
Nov 08, 2018•55 min•Ep. 71
We all have the ability to make an impact in someone else's life. Sometimes we will see this impact. Most often we will not. In this episode, co-founder Barb Allen shares her story of one of the many people who impacted her in her path through grief. Tony Orlando is an avid supporter of our military. The first time Barb met him, she left an unforgettable memory for him and helped him understand the value of the work he was doing. Eight years later their paths crossed again. This time, Tony said ...
Oct 31, 2018•21 min•Ep. 70
We are so excited because on today's installment of Freedom Friday we have an amazing message from Elena Cardone on the American Dream. We had Elena on the show back on episode #42. In this installment of Freedom Friday Elena Cardone talks about how the American Dream is available to anyone who is willing to eliminate all excuses and work hard towards achieving it. She believes anyone can build an empire with the opportunities that exist in this country. Tune in every Friday where we bring you a...
Oct 26, 2018•7 min•Ep. 69
Mike Lightner was a young boy when his teacher told his father not to expect much from him. Always behind his peers, he nearly failed out of high school. But Mike went on to graduate college in the top 1% of his class and be promoted to the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. Today his passion is to develop leaders who, in turn, have a passion to develop other leaders. Mike shares his story of turning self-doubt in success, and the leadership lessons he learned along the way. Read the full a...
Oct 24, 2018•56 min•Ep. 68
We are so excited because today's installment of Freedom Friday we have a great lesson from Dr. Sean Stephenson. We had Sean on the show back on episode #33. In this episode Sean talks about Parenting, the impact of teachers, and how not to focus on what you can't do but you can do. Now here's the incredible Dr. Sean Stephesnon. Tune in every Friday where we bring you a quick 5-15 minute message, lesson, concept, or thought that you can take into the weekend. Read the full article, watch the vid...
Oct 19, 2018•18 min•Ep. 67
Laurie A. Watkins is an author, speaker and personal and corporate coach on balancing wellness with success. Her own experience with burnout after working as a political director in Barack Obama's campaign left Laurie determined to never experience it again. In fact, she was so concerned about losing the health and wellness she's worked so had to regain that she nearly refused the request to work on his second campaign. But, instead, Laurie doubled down on her own health and wellness, returned t...
Oct 17, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 66
The more Barbara Allen fought to be normal, the harder life laughed at her. Just when she thought she had the last laugh, life turned against Barbara in a tragedy that almost destroyed her. Barbara Allen was 32 years old in 2005 when her world fell apart. Barbara's husband Lou Allen had been killed in Iraq. She was left to raise our 4 little boys alone. Lou's loss was compounded by the shocking manner of his death and the aftermath became one of the most controversial cases in military history. ...
Oct 12, 2018•20 min•Ep. 65
John "TIG" Tiegen was on his third trip to Benghazi, Libya for the CIA's GRS when the attack of September 11, 2012 occurred. TIG was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission. He directly saved the lives of many on his team, and was paramount in saving over 2 dozen lives while fighting off terrorists from the US Special Mission and the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. TIG received the Award For Heroism and Valor in recognition of his bravery...
Oct 05, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 64
Dr. Ruben West never met a personal challenge he didn't turn into an opportunity. He has an innate ability to see promise and potential where others see dead ends and disappointment, and he's using this ability to blaze new trails for others to follow. Dr. West knew he wanted to be a surgical assistant in a time where that profession was not recognized as such. Rather than accept the impossibility of his vision, he set about creating that profession that is now recognized in the medical field. H...
Sep 28, 2018•47 min•Ep. 63
Julie Reisler is not a celebrity or household name, but her story is one played out in the lives of millions of people battling the effects of addiction. While she's successfully taken control of her own health and designed the life most fulfilling to her, she's painfully aware of all the people silently fighting their own battles and passionate about helping them live their own extraordinary lives. Julie is an author, a speaker, and a lifestyle designer who's mastered the art of tough love with...
Sep 21, 2018•49 min•Ep. 62
Nature brought Bonnie and Tom Carroll together. Tragedy ripped them apart, and grief became Bonnie's new companion. In the decades since her loss, Bonnie Carroll has become one of the most influential people in the military community. Her work is born from grief but her grief originated in love - and it is with that love that she is able to impact thousands of people around the world. American Snippets co-founder, Barb Allen, knows TAPS and Bonnie personally and credits Bonnie for much of the su...
Sep 14, 2018•37 min•Ep. 61
Marie Cosgrove had every reason to fail. She had every excuse to quit on her own life - a life that arose out of violence and was raised in trauma. But for every act of man or fate that tried to end her life or keep her down, Marie fought back. Well before her 30th birthday she'd endured decades of abuse, escaped two violent marriages, and lead her four young children into new lives despite the never-ending drumbeat of adversity. Today Marie is a titan in the same industry she was warned she wou...
Sep 06, 2018•49 min•Ep. 60
Eric Konovalov is the President of The Goal Guide Inc., a consulting firm focused on life coaching, sales training, motivational speaking, and leadership development. Eric’s passion is to help people and organizations bridge the gap between their current state and where they dream of being. Eric Konovalov was a Jewish refugee from the former USSR. After a year of waiting in two refugee settlements in two different countries, Eric and his sister, stepsisters, mom and stepfather were told they'd b...
Aug 30, 2018•46 min•Ep. 59
Any parent knows small children have big imaginations and see only what's possible, not what's impossible. It can be easy for us to be so weighed down in our responsibilities and so tainted by our own setbacks that we dismiss the potential for a small child to actually turn imagination into reality - but that's just what Andrea Blackstone helped her son Tyler Stallings do. Tyler was only 4 years old when Andrea taught him about what our military does and what our veterans face when they come hom...
Aug 23, 2018•38 min•Ep. 58
Charlynda Scales is a self-described optimist who chooses to live by faith rather than fear. Eleven years in the United States Air Force not only upheld her family's strong military lineage but sharpened the leadership skills she's now using to lead her own company to success. Mutt's Sauce is named for Charlynda's grandfather, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran whose call-name was Mutt. His special sauce is a family heirloom initially thought to be lost upon his death but later discovered to be wi...
Aug 16, 2018•52 min•Ep. 57
Question: What do you get when you cross patriotism with selflessness, layer in some Shakespeare, and pile on the talent and snark? Answer: David Meadows David Meadows is quick to point out that he’s not sure he would have joined the military after 9/11, but one gets the sense he would still have been first in line. As it was, David had been in the Navy for about a year before that tragic day. He’d fallen short of passing SEAL training once but returned after 9/11. This time he left with a tride...
Aug 10, 2018•48 min•Ep. 56
Dr. Dave Ores is a disruptor by nature, and he's turning that tendency toward helping people most of society forgets about. The outspoken General Practitioner from New York City is leading the effort to provide a small but invaluable service to young survivors of human trafficking as well as people who have found the strength to put criminal pasts behind them, so they can make a fresh start. Dr. Dave is a great example of how one person can make a huge difference in thousands of lives, simply by...
Aug 03, 2018•38 min•Ep. 55
Dave Bray USA is on a new mission to spread patriotism and American unity across this country. His blend of faith-based patriotic rock reaches deep into the soul of audiences across the country in his live performances, and is now available on his new album. Aching loss and immense sacrifice of military, first responders, and law enforcement all spill through in the haunting lyrics and sounds of Dave’s song, Last Call. Faith and hope pour out in his version of Amazing Grace, and every song on th...
Jul 26, 2018•44 min•Ep. 54
American Snippets Co-Founder Barb Allen recently gave a talk at TEDX Ladybird Lake. This talk introduced the power that patriotism holds to help all of us enact powerful change in our own lives. Although it is still newly released, this talk is already well-received and igniting conversations. Watch the talk here: www.barballenspeaks.com Listen in as Barb continues the conversation and further explains how patriotism may be the answer so many of us are seeking. If you enjoyed this episode, check...
Jul 18, 2018•13 min•Ep. 53
Alin Bijan is a film director and Emmy award winning producer. His extensive professional credits include several projects with the iconic American star Chuck Norris and his new film Flip Turn, based on the true story of a young autistic boy who becomes a swimming champion. Alin's all American success story is made all the more remarkable by the fact that he is Iranian-born, and came to this country all alone at the age of 15. Now he's an avid supporter of our military, a proponent of the Americ...
Jul 11, 2018•58 min•Ep. 52
Are you a weekend warrior in life, cramming all of your family time, leisure time, and YOU time into the hours between 5 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m Monday? Do you feel your inner joy start to shrivel up on Sunday evening as you resign yourself to another 5 days of commuting, cubicles, cranky co-workers and time clocks? Or are you just plodding through your life, one day the same as the next, with no idea what happened to the You, you used to be? STOP IT. You have the right to the pursuit of happiness...
Jul 03, 2018•25 min•Ep. 51
Alba Melgar-C'De Baca immigrated to this country as a young child. Her family worked hard to not just survive in America, but thrive. Then, Alba decided she also wanted to give back to this country that was so good to her family. Today Alba is a 29 year veteran of the United States Military. She'll retire from the Army on July 1 with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and the civilian title of Dr, having also earned her PhD. She may no longer be an active officer, but she's still a leader who leaves ...
Jun 26, 2018•41 min•Ep. 50
