American Snippets

Kim Rhodenbaugh Lewallen was 13 years old when she competed in national swim meets. The young athlete was poised for some of the best years of her life, but within the year her optimism and happiness would be stolen from her when she was sexually assaulted by a fellow athlete.As Kim's athletic career rose all the way to the 1984 Olympics, the sexual assaults continued at the hands of several fellow athletes from some of this country's top teams.Kim kept the abuse a secret and spiraled downward into anorexia, bulimia, and alcohol as her stress grew. It took her decades to confront her pain, and now Kim is using her story to teach important lessons in resilience, achieving success, and to raise awareness about abuse among the community of professional athletes.Read our featured article on Kim LewallenWatch this Interview on YouTubeFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube fo

Country music artist Ryan Weaver is that "overnight success" that's been 13 years in the making. Today he's the patriotic voice of the PBR, and travels around the world performing on legendary stages and in iconic studios. From Madison Square Garden to Australia, he's living his version of the American Dream. On the surface he's the picture of success loving the experience of his star rising. But underneath, he's an intensely driven man who's been through immense tragedy and paid an enormous price for the opportunity he's enjoying.Listen as Ryan shares his story of military service, the deaths of his brother and brother in law who served in the military, the complexities of the music industry and how he's using his hard-earned platform to create a legacy of patriotism.Read our featured article on Ryan WeaverWatch the Ryan Weaver Interview on YouTubeFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to vi

At age 5 his father died. At age 16 he quit school. At age 17 he had already lost four jobs. At age 18 he got married. Between ages 18 and 22, he was a railroad conductor and failed. He joined the army and washed out there. He applied for law school, he was rejected. He became an insurance sales man and failed again. At age 19 he became a father. At age 20 his wife left him and took their baby daughter. He became a cook and dishwasher in a small cafe. He failed in an attempt to kidnap his own daughter, and eventually he convinced his wife to return home.At age 65 he retired. On the 1st day of retirement he received a check from the Government for $105. He felt that the Government was saying that he couldn’t provide for himself. He decided to commit suicide, life wasn’t worth living anymore; he had failed so much. He sat under a tree writing his will, but instead, he wrote what he would have accomplished with his life.He realized there was much more that he hadn’t yet done. There was one thing he could do bett

American Snippets co-founder Barb Allen suffered a devastating loss when her husband, Lt Louis Allen, was murdered by a fellow soldier. For years she struggled to find her way through trauma while raising her four boys, but could not seem to break the cycle of pain in her life.In this episode, Barb shares her story of the moment it all came crashing down on her one last time, talks about how she learned how to truly rebuild her life, and shares lessons learned from hundreds of interviews about how to flip pain into purpose.Learn More About Barbara AllenFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

It seems like running into burning buildings to rescue people, rushing to administer first aid and life-saving care to victims, and risking your life for others is more than enough service to your fellow man. But for people like Luke Schneider and Jason Patton that's not enough.Luke and Jason are firefighters. They are dedicated to their work and have directly saved and impacted countless lives. It is rewarding work but also demanding and exhausting. The men rely on camaraderie and coffee to balance the stress at work, and turned those two things into an entrepreneurial enterprise that also supports the firefighting community.Listen in as Jason and Luke share the story of how Fire Dept Coffee was born, why it matters, and who it helps. Along the way they dispel myths about firefighters, talk about the unseen struggles of that community, and share some stories of memorable calls.Learn More About Luke Schneider And Fire Dept CoffeeFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not

Marine Corps veteran Chris White got tired of being attacked for his patriotism. The divisiveness in this country ate away at him to the point that he felt it was time to defend his patriotism and do his part to restore the platform that once served to unite the people in this country.When a video he made went viral, Chris used that surge in visibility to launch Freedom Hard, an unapologetically patriotic brand that focuses on humor to convey its love of America.Freedom Hard" is a Lifestyle Brand based in Houston, Texas. Founder Chris White speaks regularly to youth groups, Veteran organizations, and rehabilitation facilities throughout the world with his own unique message of unity and patriotism.Learn More About Chris White and Freedom HardFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Behind every person who serves this country is another person who loves them. They are husbands or wives, parents, children, friends and family. For the spouses of our military members, life is often packed with uncertainty and the ever-present threat of that knock on the door.While the service member shares the camaraderie of those they serve alongside, for the spouse at home it is much different. The isolation, the constant moving, and all that goes along with being married into the military life can break that bond. But two military spouses are doing their part to disrupt the downside of that life and create a community that builds one another up.Listen in as Tiffany and Tara get real about the behind-the- scenes of being the other half of this nation's military, and their work to unite others through Real Talk with the Ms's.Learn More About Real Talk with the Ms'sFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify

Adam Davis is a former law enforcement officer and hostage negotiator. With a personal past packed with pain, and a career that presented a seemingly constant onslaught of death, danger, and tragedy, Adam's faith and will collapsed simultaneously, and he headed into a downward spiral.Convinced his wife and children were better off without him, Adam was moments away from ending his life when he had an experience that helped him push through his hopelessness and pain, and recommit to life.Today Adam is the Director of Outreach at the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation. He's also an author and a speaker, and uses his experience to help heal marriages in the military, law enforcement and first responder communities.Learn More About  Adam Davis HereFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Human potential is limitless, or so we should be taught. Instead, people like Chris Costa are told there are limits to their potential. Too many people accept those limits placed upon them by others.For years, Chris did too - until he realized he was either going to have to find a way past those limits, or settle into a life lived beneath them.Chris chose to find his own way through. Listen in as the patriotic entrepreneur shares his story of rejecting limits, serving his country, and creating his own unique brand of patriotism called Pocket Square Heroes that is sweeping the country.Learn More About Chris Costa And Pocket Square HeroesFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Before you are able to build the life that truly fulfills you, you must first overcome all those obstacles that are in your way. Some of these are self-imposed. Others have been unfairly placed upon you or are simply part of the process. Regardless, it takes hefty amounts of motivation and inspiration to maintain the dedication and commitment necessary when building and maintaining that life you've always dreamed of having.This is why we feel so strongly about the value of motivational or inspirational speakers, podcasts, books, movies, etc. Both of us relied on these stories and people to help us change the mindsets that were holding us back on our own paths. It was only when we learned from these examples that we were able to truly accept accountability for our own lives, and only then we were able to learn how to build upon that foundation.In this episode, Barb Allen talks about a recent upswing in trivializing motivational speakers and explains why this could limit some people's exposure to helpful resour

Jeremy Harrell has always found fulfillment in being of service to others. He's also been ready to fill a need where he sees it. While still a teenager he began delivering groceries to senior citizens. He then committed to military service before he'd even graduated high school.Years later he was a combat veteran who'd received a medical discharge and was struggling to find his way in the civilian world. On the edge of the gap between one life and the other, Jeremy fell into a period of struggle that is so common for our veterans.Listen in as Jeremy shares his story of what that was like, how he came through it, and how his nationally recognized program for veterans is filling that gap for others.Learn More About Jermey Harrell HereFollow us on Instagram:@americansnippets@barballenspeaks@davebrownliveiTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify.Don't forget to visit us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Jason Redman had the potential to be a strong leader, but his ego had other ideas. The promising Navy SEAL was admittedly slow in learning the nuances of leadership, and found himself disgraced and ready to walk away from the career he loved. But with the mentorship of someone he respected, Jason gave it one more try and painfully rebuilt his career and his reputation. He'd barely settled back into his second shot at the SEALS when he suffered life threatening injuries in combat, and faced the biggest struggle of his life. With his wife supporting him and his newfound mindset to overcome adversity, Jason not only made an extraordinary recovery, he went on to become an author, speaker, and advocate inspiring and helping people all over the country. Listen in as Jason shares his story of overcoming life's ambushes Learn More About Jason Redman Here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget t

Nicole Condrey could have given up on her husband when the symptoms of his disease began impacting his behavior. She could have walked away from the mood swings, the anger, and the unpredictability of life with the man whose brain was deteriorating, and not many people would have blamed her for it. But instead of giving up on her husband, Nicole doubled down on him and fought her own kind of war to find him the help he needed. But the disease overpowered her efforts and her husband's capacity to fight it, and ultimately her husband ended his own life. Just as she'd done for him before, Nicole attacked her pain and gave it a purpose. Today she is not only a member of America's greatest skydiving teams, but she is also an advocate for properly diagnosing and treating the often misdiagnosed disease that led her husband to lose his life. Learn More About Joy Kong Here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spoti

Joy Kong could teach an entire course on how cold calling people changed her life, but she's too busy for that. The Bejing-born American used the Yellow Pages to get out of China and risked her life to work in Tibet -all as a means to come to this country and fulfill her American Dream. Today, the triple-certified medical professional who was once rejected entry into America is now earning awards for her groundbreaking work in stem cell therapy, owns her own company, donates time to help veterans, is about to release her first book, and is on a mission to change the medical profession's acceptance of stem cell therapy.  Listen in as Joy Kong shares her incredible story of tenacity and passion, and what she's learned that will help you crush your own obstacles in life. Learn More About Joy Kong Here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational con

Is the American Dream still achievable? Ask Christopher Gardner! You’ve probably heard people say that the American dream is a dead idea. These naysayers will point to personal experience as evidence. The truth, however, is that the American dream is not only alive and well, but it’s easier than ever before to achieve. Consider the story of Christopher Gardner. Christopher’s story became an inspirational tale for many. Will Smith portrayed Christopher in the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. Listen in as we cover Christopher's story and discuss how it applies to living the American Dream. Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

You’d never know it unless he told you, but Roland Frasier has lived through his own version of hell. The jovial, highly respected and ultra successful entrepreneur who speaks with celebrities and influencers on stages all over the world, and whose net worth makes being a millionaire seem like middle class, once lost everything he’d built and came perilously close to ending his own life. The grandson of a Southern Baptist minister had embraced the concept of selflessness in his childhood, but it wasn’t until he was in prison that he realized giving back is about more than feeling good - it’s also a gateway to new opportunities Learn More About Roland Frasier Here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Lots of us have "aha moments" in life. But how many of us take those moments as a call to action, and how many of us view them as wishful thinking? Alex Weber took his moment and turned it into his own unique version of life that's lead him to compete in American Ninja warrior, host TV shows, speak on stages all over the world, and live a life packed with moments that truly matter to him. Listen in to this episode as Alex shares his 'AHA moment," how he turned that into a whole new life for himself, and what advice he has to offer you as you seek to do the same. Learn more about Alex Weber here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

Chris Cruise loves his country, his family, and bourbon. So it makes perfect sense to him to wrap all three of those things into an entrepreneurial outlet that includes family members, embodies patriotism, re-purposes bourbon barrels, and gives veterans an opportunity to thrive. Listen in to this week's episode as army veteran Chris Cruise talks about building Cruise Custom Flags into a mission-oriented business, and his story of how art therapy helps him and others find new purpose in life. Learn more about Chris and Cruise Custom Flags here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

It's a good thing Don Reilly doesn't settle for easy. Whether in his personal or professional life, Don Reilly rarely lets fear or complacency stand in the way of pursuing something that his gut tells him is a good idea. He has a faith that overpowers his fears, and that faith has led him to where he is today. Don is a father of four, an entrepreneur, an actor, and a co-founder of the brand new non-profit, Back Home Patriots. Listen is as Don shares his story of heartbreaking family moments that led to immense blessings, and the hard-earned professional success that led him to recognize and meet a need felt by many veterans in his community. Learn more about Don Reilly and Back Home Patriots here Follow us on Instagram: @americansnippets @barballenspeaks @davebrownlive iTunes Not Your Thing? Listen to us on Simplecast and follow us on Spotify. Don't forget to viist us on YouTube for more inspirational content.

In the six years since tragedy found her, Taya Kyle has experienced the worst and the best of humanity. The worst has brought its top guns into the battle to destroy her but she’s got faith as her ammo and it’s always been the stronger weapon.To the world he was Chris Kyle, the American Sniper. He was the invincible Navy SEAL who’d been put in the spotlight for his record-setting number of confirmed kills and the book that told his story. To Taya he was her husband, her best friend, and the father of her children.Taya Kyle is blunt and seemingly fearless in her openness about their struggles and the reality behind the scenes. She is unflinchingly honest about the man behind the myth, and fiercely protective of his name.She’s best known for her intensely inspiring talks, her moving books, and the work she does through the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation. You may also have seen her as a regular contributor on Fox News or in any of the numerous interviews she’s given.Taya Kyle's American Spirit is an example for us a