From Buffalo Soldier to Author: LaWanna Bradford on Legacy, Leadership & Writing I Pledge Allegiance
The Mike Litton Experience
Mike Litton
5.0 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 22 July 2025
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What does it mean to pledge allegiance—not just to a flag, but to values, legacy, and purpose?
In this compelling episode of The Mike Litton Experience, Mike sits down with LaWanna Bradford, a powerhouse author, former federal analyst, Olympic Games budget officer, and daughter of a real-life Buffalo Soldier. From growing up as a military brat in Italy and Arizona to breaking barriers in leadership and co-authoring multiple books, LaWanna’s story is rich with courage, insight, and unwavering commitment.
She reveals what it was like working with legends, living history, and ultimately honoring her father’s legacy by writing her powerful book, I Pledge Allegiance: A Journey Through the Words That Shaped Our Nation. This episode dives into leadership, race, patriotism, legacy, and healing generational wounds through writing and truth-telling.
Subscribe now and be inspired by LaWanna’s raw wisdom and remarkable journey. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you stream your shows!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | He said, Loana, I've given you everything. |
| 0:03.2 | You need to trust your instinct. |
| 0:04.6 | I'm like, but dad, what would you do? |
| 0:06.3 | He's like, I'm not going to tell you what I would do. |
| 0:08.8 | What would you do? |
| 0:10.0 | And that's the first time that he never gave me his guidance. |
| 0:13.7 | Oh, what a great opportunity. |
| 0:16.9 | Yeah, it was pretty fantastic. |
| 0:18.4 | So what was your favorite thing about that? |
| 0:21.9 | Oh, my goodness. |
| 0:23.9 | I think it just goes back to pride, pride of who we are as a nation, realizing we were on the world stage. |
| 0:32.8 | And so I was actually tenured in their old retirement program. |
| 0:39.2 | Mm-hmm. |
| 0:40.0 | So I was able to take an early retirement. |
| 0:42.5 | Oh, there you go. |
| 0:44.0 | So that was an option. |
| 0:45.5 | Yeah, so I left. |
| 0:46.8 | So they may have gone from an F to a D. |
| 0:49.0 | Right. |
| 0:50.1 | Or a D to a C. |
| 0:51.8 | And they have to be selected by the principal of the school. |
| 0:56.3 | And what was so amazing, I flew home in May for the Spirit of the Buffalo Soldier Award. |
... |
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