From combat linguist to women veterans advocate - EP300 Tango Alpha Lima

Army veteran Kayla Williams served in combat, deploying to Iraq in 2003 as an Arabic linguist with the 101st Airborne Division. Since retiring from the military, she has become a bestselling author, and leading advocate for women veterans and military families. From serving without body armor plates during the 2003 Iraq invasion to navigating her husband's traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery, Williams shares her journey of resilience and her ongoing fight to preserve the hard-won gains women have made in the military. Discover why hope matters more than hardship, and why evidence-based policy changes are critical for the future of veteran health care. Also in this episode: a VA health care change that will help women veterans, tips on how veterans can protect themselves against scammers, the legend of Cafe Ground Zero and more. 00:00 Welcome 01:04 Understanding Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for Veterans 05:10 Welcome to Kayla Williams 08:00 Kayla's Military Journey 16:11 Transitioning from Military to Advocacy 27:42 Advocacy and Policy Work 38:01 Future Projects and Ongoing Advocacy 45:05 VA Makes New Changes for Women 46:28 Buck Stops Here: Avoid Scammers! 47:48 Weird History: Pentagon Hot Dog Stand the Target for Nukes?