Documentary First Podcast Episode 273: D-Day Leadership Academy: Jake Schroeder on WWII Veterans, Normandy & Redefining Success

What does a musician who sang the national anthem for the Colorado Avalanche over 1,000 times, ran inner-city youth sports for 4,000 kids a year through the Denver Police Activities League, and fronted a funk-rock band for two decades do for an encore? He builds a leadership academy on the beaches of Normandy. Jake Schroeder’s D-Day Leadership Academy brings inner-city high school students to Sainte-Mère-Église, France to learn leadership through the stories of Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. In this episode, he and host Christian Taylor—director of the award-winning WWII documentary The Girl Who Wore Freedom—dig into the uncomfortable question every creative and nonprofit leader faces: what does success actually look like when the money isn’t there but the mission keeps growing?

What You’ll Learn

On Redefining Success:

How do you define success when your documentary or nonprofit isn’t financially profitable?

What does “the road has to be worth it” mean for musicians, filmmakers, and nonprofit leaders?

How does Stoic philosophy help when you’re facing failure in creative work?

What are John Elway’s three rules for running a successful charity event?

On Pivoting When Everything Falls Apart:

How did concussions, insurance costs, and political shifts dismantle a 50-year-old youth sports program?

What does it take to sell your building and completely reimagine a nonprofit’s mission?

How did a side project bringing WWII veterans to Normandy become the D-Day Leadership Academy?

On the D-Day Leadership Academy:

What are the five pillars of D-Day leadership and where do they come from?

How does the story of Waverly Woodson at Omaha Beach teach empathy?

What happens at Angoville-au-Plain that teaches a lesson about humanity during war?

How do inner-city kids from Richmond get to Normandy—and what changes for them?

What adult leadership retreats, culinary tours, and concert experiences are available in Normandy?

On Filmmaking and Authenticity:

Why do documentary filmmaking relationships outlast the production?

How did The Girl Who Wore Freedom capture what Jake struggled to explain about Normandy?

Why does authenticity matter more than polish in both fundraising and filmmaking?

Key Quotes

“The road has to be worth it—because you’ll see hundreds of bands that are horrible make lots of money and fade away. If you’re not redeemed by the work itself, it’s just not worth it.”

“I’m such a fart in the wind compared to the power of what’s going on with this beach. So calm down. Look for the bright lights and keep going.”

“That’s why we came.” —What WWII veterans told Jake Schroeder when he asked how they felt about children playing on Utah Beach”

“Pick a charity you really believe in. Don’t lose money. And make sure everybody has a really good time.” —John Elway”

“Your films may not be making a lot of money, but it does not mean they should not be made.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the D-Day Leadership Academy?

The D-Day Leadership Academy is a nonprofit that brings inner-city high school students, police officers, and combat veterans to Normandy, France for seven-night immersive leadership programs. Based in Sainte-Mère-Église, the program teaches five pillars of leadership—leading from the front, total commitment to mission, chaos, preparation, and empathy—through the stories and sites of D-Day, including Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and Angoville-au-Plain. Students apply through http://ddayleadershipacademy.com and are selected through interviews.

How did the D-Day Leadership Academy start?

The program evolved from Jake Schroeder’s work with the Denver Police Activities League, where he ran youth sports for approximately 4,000 kids per year. Beginning in 2011, he started bringing WWII veterans back to Normandy and saw the impact of pairing their stories with at-risk youth and police officers. When concussions, insurance costs, and political changes dismantled his Denver-based programs, Schroeder pivoted the nonprofit’s mission entirely toward the Normandy-based leadership model.

Can adults participate in D-Day Leadership Academy programs?

Yes. The organization is expanding into adult programming including executive leadership retreats, guided Normandy tours, culinary couples experiences, yoga retreats, and family trips. They also host classical concert events featuring musicians from the Colorado Symphony. A Girl Who Wore Freedom guided tour led by filmmaker Christian Taylor launches in fall 2026.

What did WWII veterans say about people recreating on Normandy’s beaches?

Jake Schroeder asked more than 20 WWII veterans how they felt about people playing and recreating on the D-Day beaches. Every veteran he asked said the same thing: “That’s why we came.” LST driver Anthony Malan began crying when he saw children playing on Utah Beach—not from sadness, but because seeing people enjoy freedom was the entire purpose of their sacrifice.

About Jake Schroeder

Jake Schroeder is a fourth-generation Colorado native who fronted the funk-rock band OP Gone Bad for roughly 20 years and sang the national anthem for the Colorado Avalanche (NHL) more than 1,000 times over 25 years. He began volunteering with the Denver Police Activities League in 1999, became executive director in 2014, and oversaw its transformation into the D-Day Leadership Academy—a nonprofit that brings inner-city youth, police officers, and combat veterans to Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France to learn leadership through the stories of D-Day, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The organization also offers adult leadership retreats, guided tours, and cultural experiences including classical concerts. Jake lives in Golden, Colorado with his partner Brooke Ferguson, principal flutist of the Colorado Symphony.

Website: https://ddayleadershipacademy.com

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