In December, the Association of the U.S. Army’s “Army Matters” podcast will highlight veterans who continue serving others and feature a special Christmas story.

First up is a podcast featuring Alex McLeod, CEO of Parlay Finance, and Army Reserve Maj. Jay Long, the company’s chief operations officer.

In an episode titled “Love and Marriage … and Entrepreneurship,” married couple McLeod and Long talk about how they helped Afghan refugees during the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in 2021. As they worked, they realized that they wanted to create a better system for these new immigrants to fund their small businesses.

The couple created Parlay Protocol, an artificial intelligence-aided, veteran-built financial platform that makes it easier for banks to approve small-business loans. It’s just one of many startups for this Army couple, who have a great track record of success as entrepreneurs—and in their marriage.

Listen as McLeod and Long discuss the all-female Afghan battalion that inspired them, how Long’s work with the Reserve’s newly formed Detachment 201 has taught him a few lessons, and what they do when they disagree.

The podcast is available Dec. 3.

Next up, on Dec. 17, is an episode titled “A Silent Night in WWII: A Special Christmas Story.”

On Christmas Eve in 1944, Elizabeth Vincken and her 12-year-old son, Fritz, sat down for a quiet dinner, hopeful for a respite from the deadly battles in the northern Belgian forest.

Knocks on their door quickly turned their evening into a series of dramatic moments and standoffs, but Vincken’s bravery and compassion led to one of the most heart-filled—and untold—stories of World War II.

In this special holiday episode, Kevin Hymel, an Army historian, and Carrie Varouhakis, “Army Matters” senior producer, unearth this story of a mother, a son, weary soldiers, warm food, a song, a fat goose and a lifelong quest that will fill your heart with joy.

Finally, on Dec. 31, the podcast will feature Dog Tag Bakery, a Washington, D.C., café that not only serves coffee and treats but also hosts a business incubator program.

In 2014, a military spouse and priest—both avid bakers—wanted to create a fun, welcoming place to help service members transitioning out of the military. They created Dog Tag Bakery, and since then, the organization has helped almost 400 veterans and military spouses in their startup companies and helped to create employment—and high spirits—across the country.

During the episode, Maureen Devine-Ahl, Dog Tag’s director of programs and community impact, and Erin Vandre, an Army spouse and entrepreneur, share the lessons the bakery teaches its fellows, how it helped Vandre launch her own bakery and their favorite sweet treats.

Full details on the podcasts are available at https://www.ausa.org/podcast. Listeners also can subscribe to Army Matters for updates.