This is an I-Heart podcast.

And we continue with our American stories.

General Colin Powell was the youngest and the nation's first black chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in the U.S. military. He was also the first black man

appointed Secretary of State, the world's leading diplomat. The world saw him as a military

leader, diplomat, senior statesman, and an advocate for young people.

But to friends and family, he was so much more.

We have one of those friends here to share some of the stories about the general.

Let's take a listen.

I'm Leslie Lodenslager, and I have recently written a book called My Time with General Colin Powell, Stories of Kindness, Diplomacy, and Protocol.

And in essence, it's a memoir of my 25, over 25 years, serving beside him mostly on the international speaking circuit, but also with him at the State

Department. And in July of 2016, the pals were in the Hamptons on vacation, and I was in Atlanta,

Georgia for my annual conference. On this particular day, we were gathered for a plenary session

focused on state funerals. We were at Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the plenary was taking

place in the fellowship home. While I was doing something that I preach on for everybody else. Do not look at your cell phone

when you are in an event at a show, whatever. Do not look at your cell phone. However, I was in the

back of the room and General Powell was texting me. Noddy as I was, I looked at it and reminded him where I was. He knew

I was, you know, at the conference, but he, at that moment, did not realize I was in fellowship

Paul of Ebenezer Baptist Church, which, to put it in the context, that of course, is where

Martin Luther King was a co-pastor, and also that was where his funeral had taken place. And for us to be having a

state funeral plenary session there, it was very specific and very, very meaningful. So I reminded

the general, you know, basically don't bother me, quit texting me, I'm here for this plenary session.

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