In February, the Association of the U.S. Army’s “Army Matters” podcast will highlight how technology is shaping the modern battlefield and the importance of caring for Gold Star families.

First up is an episode titled “Redefining Tech for the Future Fight: A General's New Mission” featuring retired Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, a former director of the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office who is now a senior vice president at Anduril.

The character of war is changing, but its human stakes are not. Speed, software, autonomy and long-range systems now shape the battlefield, yet every decision still carries life-or-death consequences for soldiers on the ground.

During the podcast, Thurgood shares his formative experiences as the child of an Army aviator and his own experiences as an infantryman, aviator and senior leader standing up the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. He also reflects on leadership under pressure, learning through failure and why speed in acquisition is ultimately about giving soldiers a chance to come home.

The podcast is available on Feb. 11.

Next up, on Feb. 25, is a podcast titled “The Price of Freedom: Service After Loss.” It will feature Bonnie Carroll, a retired Air Force major and Gold Star spouse who founded the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and Jennie Taylor, a Gold Star spouse and founder of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation.

In this deeply personal episode, Carroll and Taylor share how the loss of their husbands reshaped their lives and how survivor community, purpose and service can coexist with grief. Together, they explore what military families truly need after loss, what civilians often misunderstand about grief and why connection is the most powerful form of support.

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