The Women in the Arena

On this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we sit down with Hailey Gibbons, a former Army officer, Ranger School graduate, and leader whose career has spanned everything from Division I athletics and leadership development at United States Military Academy to serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment and later transitioning into the tech industry. Hailey shares her journey through some of the mi...

This week on The Women in the Arena Podcast , we sit down with journalist and bestselling author Amanda Ripley to explore the powerful ideas behind her book High Conflict . Amanda has spent her career studying how people get pulled into deeply entrenched conflict—and more importantly, how they find their way out. In this conversation, she breaks down the psychology of conflict, why it can become a...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , Sarah sits down with COL Chaveso “Chevy” Cook, an Army Special Operations veteran whose career spans elite military leadership, global influence operations, and transformative nonprofit work. With experience leading numerous teams in various types of commands, Chevy brings deep expertise in international relations, counterinsurgency, behavior mod...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, Sarah sits down with Haley Marie McClain Hill, Air Force Veteran, award-winning entrepreneur, 2x NFL Cheerleader, and founder of Torch Warrior Wear, the first-ever bodysuit built for women warriors. Haley shares the story behind creating her groundbreaking brand, how she secured major wins like a Shark Tank Season 15 deal, the 2022 Veteran Shark T...

In this special episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we welcome our first-ever male guest, Jody Fletcher, a Special Operations Navy veteran and executive coach with over three decades of leadership and coaching experience spanning both the military and corporate worlds. From advising general officers to coaching C-suite executives and small business owners, Jody brings deep insight into lea...

In this special collaboration, The Women in the Arena Podcast presents Sam & Sarah: Laced Up and Ready ,  a new series where Sarah Scully and Samantha Sliney dive deep into the issues shaping today’s veteran and military family community. Sarah, an Army veteran and founder of The Women in the Arena Podcast , brings a grounded, community-focused perspective on leadership, service, and life afte...

Welcome back to The Women in the Arena Podcast ! Today’s episode is special for so many reasons — it marks our very first book club edition, featuring a conversation with Lena Andrews, author of Valiant Women . In this powerful book, Lena brings to life the incredible and often overlooked stories of American women who served during World War II, highlighting their courage, resilience, and critical...

Major Samantha Arrington Sliney is an accomplished legal professional and Air National Guard JAG officer with over a decade of experience spanning criminal law, administrative law, and national security. Her career has been defined by a passion for advocacy and impactful policy reform, with a focus on removing systemic barriers affecting servicewomen, military families, and Department of Defense r...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we’re joined by Captain Riley Tejcek, a United States Marine Corps officer, Team USA bobsled pilot, author, and all-around force of nature. Riley shares her incredible journey from growing up in Carmel, Indiana, to playing Division I college softball at George Washington University, serving in the Marine Corps, and now competing on the world stag...

Rebecca Tubman is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and veteran with over 25 years of combined experience across national defense, intelligence, and emerging technology sectors. As a Federal Account Executive at Varonis, she leads the company’s intelligence community initiatives, building the practice from the ground up and delivering automated, data-centric security solutions to U.S. Government...

 In this inspiring episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we sit down with Janet B. Nalls, Director and Chief of Staff at NetCentrics Corporation. A U.S. Air Force veteran and national security expert with over 25 years of experience, Janet shares her remarkable journey from serving as an intelligence analyst to advising top intelligence and DoD organizations. Janet opens up about her passion...

Today’s guest is Bridget Walton, a Marine Corps veteran and Women's Hormone Coach who helps women balance their hormone health. This episode is particularly special to me because Bridget and I went to the University of South Carolina together and were in ROTC at the same time—connecting with people from old chapters of your life is always so much fun. There is nothing more exciting than seeing vet...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena, Kafi Joseph shares her inspiring journey from Army officer to global strategist and purpose-driven innovator. A West Point graduate with advanced degrees in systems engineering and business, Kafi led teams across Korea, Iraq, and the U.S. before transitioning into high-impact roles in the National Guard and private sector. Her career spans global consulti...

On this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we chat with Alea Nadeem. Alea is a dedicated leader in national security, congressional affairs, and veteran advocacy, with a distinguished career spanning military service, policymaking, and nonprofit leadership. She currently serves as the Director of DoorKeepers for the United States Senate Sergeant at Arms, ensuring the seamless operation of...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena , we sit down with Meg Tucker, an Army veteran and the Founder of The Valkyrie Project, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and supporting American servicewomen. With 15 years in uniform, Meg began her military journey as a Kiowa Warrior pilot before transitioning into special operations as a Psychological Operations officer. Now, in her post-military care...

In this special bonus episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we welcome Vineta Kleine, Head of Communications for NATO's Representation in Ukraine. With over two decades of experience in public information and communication for the EU and NATO, Vineta has developed and implemented strategic communication policies, advised senior leaders, and led public diplomacy efforts in regions including K...

In this special final episode of Season One of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we are honored to feature Mahnaz Akbari, a trailblazing leader and former commander of the Afghan National Army’s Female Tactical Platoon. Born in a refugee camp in Iran to Afghan parents fleeing Soviet occupation, Mahnaz returned to Afghanistan, where she joined the Army and led 30 women on hundreds of missions alongs...

On this episode of The Women in the Arena, we have the pleasure of interviewing the Honorable Dr. Kimberly A. McClain. Dr. McClain is an accomplished leader with an extensive career spanning over 30 years across academia, defense, financial services, government, and international relations. Her expertise encompasses critical areas such as aviation, cybersecurity, defense acquisition, legislative a...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we are privileged to welcome Major Jacqueline Barnum, a dedicated leader and innovator in the United States Marine Corps. Originally from the Bay Area in California, Major Barnum graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corp...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast , we are honored to welcome Jenn Hassin, a Texas-born artist known for her powerful installations that transform found materials into poignant reflections on trauma and personal journeys. Based in Buda, Texas, Jenn holds a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University, where she focused on Social Practice and Installation, and a Studio Art degree fr...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we are excited to introduce Major Danielle M. Park, an accomplished F-16 Instructor Pilot with the 179th Fighter Squadron, 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard. Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Maj Park is not only a key NORAD Aerospace Control Alert Pilot, supporting the critical 24/7 homeland defense mission, but she also manages the Wing...

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Kate van Dam, the Head of Strategic Growth at SkyFi. At SkyFi, Kate leads efforts to establish a leading geospatial hub, driving innovation and growth in the field. Prior to her role at SkyFi, Kate was a Senior Director at InQTel, where she worked with cutting-edge start-ups and the US government to enhance national secu...

Shelane is the daughter of small business owners, growing up in central Florida and working on horse farms throughout her youth. After the attacks on 9/11, she was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, becoming the first in her family to join the military. Shelane deployed to Ramadi, Iraq leading Soldiers as a Military Police Platoon Leader and Executive Officer. Upon returning, sh...

Welcome to a compelling episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, brought to you by Iron Butterfly Media. Today, we shine a spotlight on the extraordinary journey of Command Sergeant Major (CSM) JoAnn Naumann, from her early days as a Voice Language Analyst to her current role as the Command Sergeant Major of United States Army Special Operations Command, where she is responsible for approximatel...

Join us for an inspiring episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast powered by Iron Butterfly Media as we delve into the extraordinary life and career of Phyllis Wilson. With 37 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, Phyllis J. Wilson has left an indelible mark on military intelligence and leadership. Phyllis Wilson's journey spans across the globe, from Europe to Asia, Africa to Sou...