S.O.S. (Stories of Service) - Ordinary people who do extraordinary work

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Yesterday, during our annual Suicide Prevention training, I shared my story of childhood trauma. I endured mental abuse on a routine basis for the first 17 years of my life at the hands of a caregiver. I left right after speaking, so I'm not sure how much it may have resonated, and I even forgot to bring one of the pages. Ugh! ...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! With a heart for service and a fierce determination to speak up for proper care and services for veterans, Liz Hartman exemplifies what my show is all about.  From her time devoting endless hours to the American Legion to her campaign work on numerous issues such as predatory lending practices, you know you’ll not only find Liz on L...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! I always enjoy bringing on consultants whose expertise helps the masses. Neil Jurd has that experience to take your leadership to the next level. He now coaches throughout the United Kingdom, sharing lessons learned and what works (and doesn’t work) in high-stakes, high-impact organizations. Neil Jurd is the author of ‘The Leadershi...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! With the military’s archaic and unscientific standards for physical fitness testing, it should be no surprise that many of our active-duty and veterans silently suffer from eating disorders and don’t know where to turn for help.  Additionally, the treatment is lacking within Tricare and the VA to address this issue. My guest is tryi...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Do you fearlessly share your story of overcoming immeasurable odds? My next guest is on a mission to show how we can take our most painful experiences and turn them into our greatest life triumphs. Dr. Eric Shannon Parr is a Navy veteran and internationally published educational research scientist. As an academic scholar, he achieve...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Ripped straight from the headlines, my next guest and his partner in the fight are going to bring you a story you wouldn’t believe unless you heard it from the source.  At the height of America’s forever wars, much like today, the military was desperate for fresh recruits. So like any good marketing campaign, the Army National Guard...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Scott wears many hats and shows us what stepping up and making an impact looks like. He has shared his inspiring story on numerous stages and the stories of other warriors through his play, leadership company, media engagements, book, and even advocacy in Congress.  Once again, I’m so honored to bring you another change agent who is...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! This show is unlike any of my previous episodes in that I get to talk to a Navy senior officer who paid the ultimate price for speaking up when he felt lives were at stake. You may remember his story playing out in the news two years ago.  As Theodore Roosevelt's Commanding Officer during the onslaught of the Covid epidemic, he...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! A special forces prior-enlisted Marine. A scholar. A journalist. A business owner.  There are so many sides to Andy and his illustrious career. He is a man who puts himself in harm’s way to bring light on the parts of war we’d rather see stay hidden.  Andrew Milburn most recently ran the Mozart Group, a crowd-sourced, donor-funded p...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! What is our most precious resource? Time. In this solo podcast, I give an update on what I have been up to as of late. I then address what’s on my heart ❤️. The constant need to do it all when there are no boundaries or limits to what you impose upon yourself or what your team is expected to take on. I believe there is an art to thi...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! How do you advocate without being an activist in the military? Are they separate?  Can you rock the boat without tipping it over? How do you move the needle on inclusion in spaces that are dead set against your presence?  How do you criticize a policy and maintain your obligation to the chain of command from leadership?  How do you...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! It’s no secret that most of my life I struggled to find love. For decades, I was drawn to an emotionally unstable “bad boy,” or a “beta” male who would never be an equal partner to challenge and grow together but would at least stick around. That’s why I’m so passionate about coaches in the healing space that focus in on specific ar...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! I’m all about fixing toxic work environments. Having had my fair share of them and coming from a background of childhood trauma, this subject is a mental health crisis that we must address. I’m happy to host Work Culture Consultant Brittinay Lenhart on the S.O.S. podcast. Her military background is in aviation maintenance as an enli...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Amy is a fellow Navy communicator who brings to the fight combat experience, broadcast journalism, and an expert voice on the uses of active duty representation online.  In this episode, we’ll dive deep into an issue I discuss routinely: the military’s role in teaching its troops media literacy and the Navy’s current uses of active-...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! My next guest experienced what he believed was injustice at the hands of the military’s administrative investigation system. Instead of throwing his arms up in the air, believing that he could not be the change, he founded an organization dedicated to helping others who feel wronged by the military justice system. He is now trying t...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! This must be the week of the silent service for me! After covering the opening of a significant NATO submarine exercise, I now get to interview a young lady whose career is hunting and tracking submarines. She’s also the first in so many arenas. You don’t want to miss this great conversation with an outstanding naval officer. LT And...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! I’m always fascinated by people who begin careers in one field, then pivot to something different. It shows our complexity as humans, our flair for creativity, and our uncanny ability to reinvent ourselves constantly. In this next S.O.S. episode, hear from Jared Johnson, who decided after two decades in the Air Force flying fighter...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Laura has profoundly changed how I see myself and my relationship with my Mother. Her insight into relationships, love, and storytelling is groundbreaking. She gives people the language to help them process pain and move forward. I’m so pleased to have such a trailblazer and impactful person within hope and healing. I hope her insig...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! I first became acquainted with Mary through her inspiring posts on LinkedIn about personal growth, leadership, and perseverance through adversity. I became so interested in her work I signed up for her weekly emails. Each newsletter has a pearl of wisdom, excellent book recommendations, and critical insights into how to work through...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! My most challenging shows to do are the ones that hit me in the gut. I hope that by sharing the stories of those who fought back against abusive work climates and the injustices with the military complaint process and then going on to educate others, maybe we one day stop the continuum of harm. All it takes are brave bystanders will...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! As we move through life’s seasons, there comes the point when it is time to move to the next chapter. That’s why I consider it a blessing to bring Matt to the show, whose work helping others with their military transition is instrumental in supporting others. Support is so desperately needed when one can feel disconnected from their...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! When I read Daryl’s book, I was immediately struck by how many people witnessed his cruel treatment but stayed silent as bystanders. Today we will talk to someone who witnessed gross leadership failures but has decided to take his story public to change the culture of secrecy around toxic work climates. Like families with dirty, dar...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! With suicides impacting so many communities, I knew despite how difficult this subject would be to tackle, there would be no better way to share this struggle than my dear friend David Woods Bartley. When I heard his TedTalk as I started my podcast journey, I was moved deeply on a visceral level. Suddenly, my periods of sadness, dep...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Imagine a drunk driver with repeated offenses taking the life of your husband and daughter. Now imagine yourself forgiving that man, fighting to keep on so you can raise your remaining two daughters, filing for bankruptcy, and then becoming a motivational speaker, author, and business owner who uses her story to elevate others.  Tha...

Let us know what you think of the show and what we can do better! Today’s episode shows what happens when two people meet while serving together overseas, and a beautiful friendship develops.  We will touch upon friendships among women, government contracting, serving overseas, and preparing for a successful transition from the military. You won’t want to miss it!  Karen Naumann, APR, PMP is a mul...