Heroes' Path Podcast

Two weeks ago we left it with a deadline.That deadline passed. The ceasefire stretched. Then two ships were taken within hours. Now there’s a blockade in both directions and a line of tankers sitting still where the world’s energy is supposed to move.Gas is up. Diesel’s worse. You’re already paying for it whether you’ve looked at the headlines or not.So we got Jeff back on.He lays out what changed since the last conversation. The shift from airstrikes to economic pressure. The fight inside Iran over whether to cut a deal or push forward. The same argument happening here at home as the 60-day clock runs out and Congress leaves town. And the piece nobody has solved, sitting underground and still very much part of the equation.You can hear where this is headed if you listen closely.It runs under thirty minutes.If you want to understand what’s driving the price at the pump, what’s shaping the next few weeks, and why this doesn’t stay “over there,” this one’s worth your time.If you haven’t already, join us and subscribe to our Heroes’ Path Substack. We’ll make it worth your while.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Five weeks in.A U.S. fighter goes down over Iran. One pilot recovered. One still out there. Rescue teams are working inside the country.At the same time, the Strait is tightening, the price of oil is climbing, and whatever talks were underway are starting to fall apart.So we got Jeff on the line.He walks through what changed this week, what’s breaking, and what could come next.Fifteen minutes.If you want more of this, become a paid subscriber to our Heroes' Path SubstackSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Four Weeks In. Nobody Planned for This.Day 28 of the war with Iran.The Strait of Hormuz is now a toll road — $2 million per transit, collected by the Iranians, for ships they're gracious enough to let pass. Patriot missiles are running low. The IDF Chief of Staff told his own cabinet this week that his force is on the road to collapse if they don't get 15,000 more troops. The diplomatic channel that opened this week looks, depending on who you ask, either like the beginning of a deal or the cover story for a surprise ground assault. Russia trained Iranian forces well-before the shooting started. Three thousand people are dead and that number goes up every day.Jeff Steinberg has been on the Heroes' Path podcast three Fridays running. He comes prepared. He's been right. This week, We sat down with him again to ask the questions that don't have clean answers yet — who actually wants this war to end, and what does ending it even look like now that the early assumptions are gone. Twenty-five minutes. No spin. Worth your time.https://open.substack.com/pub/heroespath/p/the-heroes-path-brief-iran-update?r=ky3s5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

We recorded this one on the move.No studio or deep editing. A quick call with Jeff Steinberg while the situation keeps changing.In twenty minutes, he walks through what’s actually happening. The resignation in Washington. The split with Israel. The nuclear question that hasn’t gone away.It’s not polished, but it will provide some clarity nonetheless.If this is the kind of signal you want instead of noise, become one of our paid subscribers. That’s what keeps conversations like this coming when they matter most.So, twenty quick minutes.Worth it.https://open.substack.com/pub/heroespath/p/heroes-path-brief-iran-update?r=ky3s5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true#Iran #Update #Steinberg #HeroesPath #Brief #Substack #PodcastSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

The American Revolution was not a foregone conclusion. It was eight years of freezing encampments, shattered supply lines, battlefield defeats, and a Continental Army that nearly dissolved more than once. From the catastrophic retreat across New York to the starvation winter at Valley Forge, the fight for independence was long, desperate, and closer to failure than most Americans will ever know. What kept it alive, beyond raw endurance, was something the history books have largely erased: George Washington's systematic intelligence campaign — a web of spies, deception operations, and covert networks that outmaneuvered the most powerful empire on earth at the moments it mattered most.Most Americans have never been told that story. Professor Jeffrey Steinberg reveals the hidden intelligence operations that made American independence possible. Drawing from his university course "The Unknown History of United States Intelligence," Steinberg takes us inside the networks, tradecraft, and systematic deception that the Founding Generation used to defeat the British Empire. As we approach America's Semiquincentennial, 250 years since the founding, this isn't ceremonial history. It's a mirror. What does it mean to keep a republic when the original victory was built on vigilance, judgment, and the ability to tell truth from noise?Jeffrey Steinberg has worked in national security policy for over forty years in partnership with Congress, the military, and the intelligence community. He serves as Executive Vice President of PTB Global Advisors and teaches national security affairs at Florida Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University.Heroes' Path Foundation develops character-based leadership through story-driven curriculum.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

After surviving a catastrophic blast in Iraq, John Gallina came home to discover that the hardest part of service often begins after the war. In this powerful episode of the Heroes’ Path Podcast, Colonel John Fenzel sits down with the combat-wounded veteran, builder, and co-founder of Purple Heart Homes to talk about service, sacrifice, and what it really means to come home.John shares the story of his deployment with battle buddy Dale Beatty, the life-changing injuries they sustained, and how their wounded homecoming became the catalyst for a national movement serving veterans through housing. Since its founding, Purple Heart Homes has helped thousands of veterans and their families live more safely, independently, and with greater dignity.This conversation goes far beyond ramps and repairs. It explores the link between housing, mental health, family stability, and community reintegration. John explains why inaccessible or unhealthy homes can deepen isolation and despair for veterans, why families often carry the hidden burden, and why communities have a responsibility to do more than simply say, “thank you for your service.”You’ll also hear John’s reflections on older generations of veterans, the enduring influence of Vietnam veterans on his own journey, the legacy of Dale Beatty, and the future of Purple Heart Homes as it expands innovative housing solutions for those who served.This is an episode about dignity, belonging, and the truth that service does not end when the uniform comes off. It may just be beginning.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Every conflict looks simple from a distance. A few maps on television, a headline about airstrikes, a sentence or two about retaliation, and the impression forms that the shape of the story is already clear.The reality is usually far more complicated, and the early days of a military operation are often the moment when the least is actually known.The United States and its allies are now engaged in a rapidly developing operation against Iran. Reports are coming in by the hour. Facilities have been struck. Senior figures inside the Iranian system may have been removed. Regional forces tied to Tehran are adjusting their posture. Energy markets are reacting. Governments across the Middle East are calculating their next steps.What is still unclear is where this goes next.Moments like this are when it helps to hear from someone who has spent a career studying how national security decisions are made and how intelligence, strategy, and geopolitics intersect long before events reach the public stage.Professor Jeffrey Steinberg is one of those people. For more than four decades he has worked in the field of national security analysis, advising policymakers, engaging with military and intelligence professionals, and teaching students how the machinery of strategy actually functions behind the scenes.In the conversation, Jeff walks through the situation as it stands today. He lays out what can reasonably be understood about the current operation, where the real uncertainties lie, and the wider consequences that could follow if the conflict expands across the region.It is a clear, thoughtful 30-minute briefing on a situation that is moving quickly and carries implications well beyond Iran itself.If you want a deeper sense of the strategic landscape behind the headlines, this discussion is well worth your time.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Day 3 in the Ardennes.Today is December 16th. On this exact date 81 years ago, December 16, 1944, the Battle of the Bulge began.For this episode, I stopped in La Gleize, outside the December 44 Museum, to stand beside Tiger II “213”. Up close, it is not an abstract chapter heading. It is scale, weight, and consequence made visible. A reminder that battles are fought not only with firepower, but with winter roads, fuel, time, stretching the limits of human endurance.You can watch the video on my YouTube Channel. Then, if you have ever tried to understand what December 1944 demanded of the people here, let this be your starting point.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

On February 8, 1944, the B-17 Susan Ruth was shot out of the sky over Nazi-occupied Belgium. What followed was a story of courage, survival, and resistance against all odds.In this episode of the Heroes' Path Podcast, host COL Tom Rendall (USA, Ret.) speaks with Steve Snyder—author, son of pilot Howard Snyder, and historian of the 306th Bomb Group—about what it was like to fly bombing missions over Europe during WWII, what happened the day the Susan Ruth was lost, and the incredible bravery of the Belgian people who risked their lives to save downed American airmen.We talk about the dangers of daylight bombing raids, the complexity of evasion networks, and the emotional toll of war on both airmen and civilians. We also explore the critical importance of preserving personal histories so future generations never forget the price of freedom.Much more than a story of survival, this story is a tribute to character, courage, and the quiet heroism of ordinary people who chose to do the right thing in history’s darkest hour.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

There’s no better—or more urgent—time to listen to the voices of our veterans.This week, Heroes’ Path hosted filmmaker and historian Zach Dunn, founder of Global Veteran Stories, who has traveled across 14 countries—and is currently in Calgary interviewing WWII veterans—to record their memories before they’re lost to time.In this powerful conversation, we discussed why these stories matter now more than ever, and how today’s events echo the lessons of the past.Follow Heroes’ Path for upcoming webinars, podcasts, and the launch of our new website dedicated to leadership, education, and remembrance. Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected.  Many more webinars and podcasts to come!#HeroesPath #StoriesOfService #Veterans #WWII #Leadership #History #Education Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

What can today’s generation learn from those who’ve led in the crucible of war?In this powerful episode of the Heroes’ Path Podcast, Colonel (Ret.) John Fenzel sits down with Georges Strachan-Heyes, a retired British Army officer and Director of Operations for the UK and NATO at Onebrief. With over two decades of combat experience across Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Estonia—and as a trusted battlefield guide for Normandy, Bastogne, and Market Garden—Georges shares raw insight into what leadership really means under pressure.They explore:The turning points of Georges’ military career—and the hardest lessons learnedWhy battlefield tours still matter, and what history teaches us about ourselvesHow today’s leaders can navigate uncertainty using timeless principlesAdvice for younger generations seeking clarity, service, and purposeWhether you're in uniform, a student of history, or simply seeking clarity in chaotic times—this episode challenges, inspires, and provokes deeper reflection on what it truly means to lead.🕒 30 minutes 📍 Guest location: Scotland (Pardon the audio interference...we tried to repair it as best we could! :-)Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

In this episode of the Heroes’ Path Podcast, host John Fenzel sits down with history teacher and storyteller Alex Rowe—the son of Colonel James “Nick” Rowe, legendary Green Beret, Vietnam POW, and architect of the U.S. military’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) program, and Susan Whitford Rowe, a devoted lifelong educator.Alex shares how his parents’ extraordinary lives shaped his own path, from his father’s harrowing five years as a prisoner of war and daring escape from execution, to his mother’s deep belief in the power of teaching and storytelling. Through vivid family stories, Alex reveals how their resilience, faith, and love of learning continue to guide him in the classroom, where he inspires students to see themselves in history—not just as observers, but as its makers.The conversation explores the enduring lessons of character, grit, and hope passed down through generations, the importance of experiential learning, and how history can anchor and empower the next generation as America approaches its 250th anniversary.Listen to hear how one teacher is carrying forward a legacy of service, courage, and curiosity—helping young people discover their own place in the story of our nation.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

In this episode of the Heroes’ Path Podcast, host John Fenzel speaks with Chloe Gavin Beatty, daughter of legendary World War II commander Lieutenant General James M. Gavin.Lieutenant General James Gavin is one of the best-known military leaders during WWII. Often referred to as “Jumpin’ Jim,” he began the war as the commander of the 505th Parachute Combat Team 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. His unit spearheaded the American assault on Sicily in July 1943.  On D-Day, Gavin served as the Assistant Division Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.  By the Fall of 1944, Gavin advanced to command the Division and by the end of the year commanded U.S. forces in Berlin. Throughout this time, he kept a wartime diary.In this episode, Chloe reflects on what it was like growing up in the shadow of one of the most daring and visionary leaders of the 82nd Airborne Division—and how her father’s values shaped her own life. Together, they explore the private side of a public figure, the importance of preserving family stories, and what leadership really means across generations.It’s an intimate, wide-ranging conversation about legacy, character, and the quiet ways our parents continue to shape us long after they’re gone.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

🎙️ New Episode: Heroes’ Path Podcast Guest: Jeff Steinberg | "A Republic, If You Can Keep It"What does it mean to lead in a republic that demands both vigilance and virtue?In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Steinberg to explore the enduring lessons of our nation’s founding. With clarity and conviction, Jeff takes us back to Philadelphia in 1787, where the Constitutional Convention tested the ideals of self-government under immense pressure.This conversation is a call to remember that our freedoms are not guaranteed—they are sustained by the character of our citizens.🎧 For the Video, Listen here: https://youtu.be/88cb3W0zonA#Leadership #CivicEducation #JeffSteinberg #HeroesPathPodcast #AmericanHistory #ConstitutionalConvention #Republic #Citizenship #PublicService #HigherEducation #JeffSteinberg #leadership #Leading #LeadershipDevelopent #USHISTORY Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Resilience Under Fire: What the Greatest Generation Knew – Heroes’ Path Webinarwith Dr. Mitch Yockelson & Dr. Ron Clark | July 29, 2025What can we learn from the resilience and leadership of the Greatest Generation—and how do those lessons apply to our lives today? In this special inaugural Heroes’ Path webinar, historian Dr. Mitch Yockelson and national security leader Dr. Ron Clark join host John Fenzel for a compelling discussion on trust, character, and overcoming adversity.Topics include:The partnership between Eisenhower and Churchill, and how their trust and decision-making shaped historyLessons from WWII combat veterans about resilience, teamwork, and coping with stressHow ordinary people can build habits of resilience in daily lifeThe importance of preserving family and community stories for future generationsPersonal reflections, audience Q&A, and practical takeaways for leaders, educators, and familiesIf you’re interested in character-driven leadership, historical wisdom, and practical steps to navigate challenge, this conversation is for you.About Heroes’ Path:Heroes’ Path is a new nonprofit dedicated to building leaders of character, grounded in history and service. To learn more, visit www.heroespathfoundation.org.Stay tuned for future webinars and resources—subscribe and join the Heroes’ Path community.Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Why I Keep Bees.I was thirteen when I opened my first hive. Two colonies, edge of the yard, just past the cornfield. Back then, bees didn’t need much. Shelter. Space. A little respect.I thought I was learning how to keep bees. Turns out, I was learning how to show up, pay attention, and keep going—even when things fall apart.We lost all our hives last year. Mites. Pesticides. A hard winter. This year, we start over. Again. Because that’s what beekeepers do.This short film is about bees—but really, it’s about building something that matters. It’s the first in our Heroes’ Path vlog series.If you’ve ever tried to keep something alive—anything—you’ll get it.https://youtu.be/wwpD4i6s_4QSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

20 minutesCombat-wounded in Vietnam at 19, Jan Scruggs returned home carrying shrapnel and the invisible weight of PTSD. One night in a theater watching The Deer Hunter sparked his audacious idea: build a memorial that could heal a divided nation. In this fast-moving conversation Jan walks us through the firefight that nearly killed him, the $2,800 gamble that launched the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the design battles with critics, and the decades of stress that eventually landed him in a coma. He closes with a clear hope—that every visitor to the Wall will grasp the real cost of war and leave determined to serve others.Listen to learn:How a 19-year-old draftee became the driving force behind America’s most visited war memorialThe inside story of choosing Maya Lin’s minimalist design and weathering the backlashLeadership lessons from fundraising, politics, and persistence under pressureWhy remembrance remains a powerful antidote to divisionSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

Today, on sacred ground, we begin something new.Heroes’ Path is officially launching—a platform for those who believe the past should help in guiding our present. For students, teachers, veterans, business leaders and citizens--all of us who still hunger for purpose, truth, and something real to believe in.Over the next 30 days, we’re rolling out programs, curriculum, stories, tools, and a living community—built on one simple idea:  The legacy of our heroes doesn’t belong in the past.It belongs in our classrooms, our communities, and in each of us.Stay tuned, and follow along. Share the mission. Walk the path.Because the journey starts here—and the past is lighting the way forward.Here is the video that the audio was drawn from:https://youtu.be/-o6ZKjzOWcI Support the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast

What does it take to lead under pressure—when clarity is a luxury and failure has consequences that echo for generations?In the very first episode of The Heroes' Path Podcast, we sit down with Colonel Greg Fontenot (USA, Ret.), a seasoned combat commander, military historian, and author of No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II. What unfolds is a compelling, unscripted conversation about how leadership is shaped, tested, and ultimately defined—on the battlefield and beyond.A Commander’s PerspectiveColonel Fontenot’s military career spans from his commission as an armor officer in 1971 to senior leadership roles during Desert Storm and later as Director of the School of Advanced Military Studies and the Army’s Red Team initiative. Throughout, he’s remained a student and teacher of leadership—asking the hard questions, challenging assumptions, and guiding future leaders through the fog of complexity.But this episode goes far beyond into the crucible of critical decision-making when the stakes are high. Drawing on his deep research and personal experience, Fontenot takes us inside the evolution of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division—the legendary “Big Red One”—during World War II. It’s a story of adaptation, moral courage, and the gritty mechanics of leading in war.What World War II Still Teaches UsAs the world marks the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, Colonel Fontenot reminds us that the leadership dilemmas of that era aren’t relics—they’re roadmaps.We explore:How ambiguity—not clarity—is the true environment that tests leadersWhy the most effective leaders provide equilibrium in volatile, ambiguous environmentsHow open critique and reflective culture became force multipliers in combatThese stories convey timeless principles that echo in today’s boardrooms, classrooms, and community halls.  Our only challenge is to listen.Technology Doesn’t Simplify War—It Changes Who Fights ItOne of the most thought-provoking turns in the episode comes as Fontenot reframes a modern myth: that today’s warfare is uniquely complex. In reality, he argues, World War II commanders faced problems as hard—or harder—than those we face today. What has changed is accessibility. Technology has democratized the tools of war, and with that, increased the pressure on leaders to make wise decisions quickly, and in the full glare of global scrutiny.“So What?” and “Now What?”We don’t just ask what happened. We ask why it matters—and what we’re supposed to do with it.Listeners walk away with clear takeaways:Why building resilient teams means embracing failure and feedbackHow to foster an organizational culture where honesty is strength, not riskWhat timeless principles—discipline, reflection, humility—can guide today’s leaders in a fractured, fast-moving worldMore Than a History PodcastThe Heroes' Path Podcast was created to remember and honor—but also to equip. Every episode is a conversation with those who’ve been tested, who’ve endured, and who are now giving back by sharing their stories. These are lessons not just for soldiers, but for anyone who aspires to lead well.ColonelSupport the showLearn • Serve • Lead • Remember 🎧 Never miss an episode—subscribe on YouTube or grab the RSS.Follow & join the conversation ➔ @HeroesPath on X, Instagram, LinkedIn • #HeroesPathPodcast