Damon, Damo, and Tisha (active duty CPOs) share sea stories and have unfiltered conversations about current events, policies, and everyday life as a service member.

Damo starts this episode with a disclaimer. Let’s protect our junior Sailors and ensure they can have transparent conversations about leadership and military lifestyle. The Navy’s official Instagram account recently went viral for all the wrong reasons. The guys discuss. Damo has finally processed that he’s leaving one place and headed to another. He has some thoughts about that. Damon is also going through a transition. He’s making a cross-country transfer and has been asked to check in early for an underway. What should he do? Fair winds and following seas to Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, declared lost at sea on 20 March 2024. OJ Simpson has passed away at 76 due to prostate cancer. The guys give flowers to women’s basketball. Kendrick Lamar and Drake are at war. Who’s gonna come out on top? Where does J. Cole fall out after his public apology? Can you aspire to be the best at what you do without being competitive? After 100 years, the British Army’s soldiers can grow beards, however, there are some contingencies. Marines living on Camp Pendleton can now self-repair their barracks rooms utilizing a new “self-help” program. What’s happening on the USS Boxer? A former Marine Corps reservist was sentenced to prison for selling over 300 fake COVID cards. The guys try to have an objective conversation about the Chief’s Mess. They address issues pointed out by junior Sailors and highlight what they believe are ways the Navy is addressing some of those points. Damon and Damo answer a couple of listeners’ questions. #DoBetter - NFCU and the VA facing discrimination lawsuits (Damo). Companies that practice “quantity or quality” (Damon). Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - <a href='https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast'>https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast</a>
 
 
Links and more from this episode:
 
Navy Backwards Scope - <a href='https://www.dailydot.com/debug/navy-backwards-scope-instagram/?amp'>https://www.dailydot.com/debug/navy-backwards-scope-instagram/?amp</a>
 
Sailor Lost at Sea - <a href='https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/03/24/navy-ids-sailor-who-died-while-underway-in-the-red-sea/'>https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/03/24/navy-ids-sailor-who-died-while-underway-in-the-red-sea/</a>
 
British Army Soldiers can now have beards - <a href='https://www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13250981/amp/Army-British-soldiers-grow-beard-King-Charles-military-chiefs-permission-end-ban.html'>https://www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13250981/amp/Army-British-soldiers-grow-beard-King-Charles-military-chiefs-permission-end-ban.html</a>
 
What’s going on on the USS Boxer? - <a href='https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/19/least-3-engineering-incidents-and-poor-leadership-kept-uss-boxer-deploying-investigations-reveal.html?amp'>https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/19/least-3-engineering-incidents-and-poor-leadership-kept-uss-boxer-deploying-investigations-reveal.html?amp</a> and <a href='https://www.dvidshub.net/news/466708/uss-boxer-earns-combat-readiness-excellence-awards'>https://www.dvidshub.net/news/466708/uss-boxer-earns-combat-readiness-excellence-awards</a>
 
Self-Help Program for Marines on Camp Pendleton - <a href='https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marines-self-repair-barracks/'>https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marines-self-repair-barracks/</a>
 
Should they do time?  - <a href='https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/04/300-fake-covid-vaccine-cards-were-sold-by-fmr-marine-reservist-nurse/?utm_source=amn&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=alt&fbclid=IwAR2N9q4Gce3IN7ImOAR6x4IC1KnlaU61yQ7O-bvzBJUVzj84amFPtGE_6CQ_aem_ATX8kSpNb3epIIzZkmMzBqyFcAc-J5I6BLwZH9rInMvnGdrf2cXDvt34a42_3H62sjU#561pzda46qw'>https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/04/300-fake-covid-vaccine-cards-were-sold-by-fmr-marine-reservist-nurse/?utm_source=amn&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=alt&fbclid=IwAR2N9q4Gce3IN7ImOAR6x4IC1KnlaU61yQ7O-bvzBJUVzj84amFPtGE_6CQ_aem_ATX8kSpNb3epIIzZkmMzBqyFcAc-J5I6BLwZH9rInMvnGdrf2cXDvt34a42_3H62sjU#561pzda46qw</a>
 
Navy Federal doing people bad on these mortgages - <a href='https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/business/class-action-lawsuit-navy-federal-invs/index.html'>https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/business/class-action-lawsuit-navy-federal-invs/index.html</a>
 
VA doing people bad on these disability claims  - <a href='https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/04/01/court-oks-lawsuit-accusing-va-of-discrimination-in-disability-claims/'>https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/04/01/court-oks-lawsuit-accusing-va-of-discrimination-in-disability-claims/</a>
 
 
Book of the Week
 
Surf When You Can (Brett Crozier) - <a href='https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Surf-When-You-Can/Brett-Crozier/9781982191009'>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Surf-When-You-Can/Brett-Crozier/9781982191009</a>
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Permission To Speak Freely

Episode 111 | "The Optics Are Wrong"

Damon, Damo, and Tisha are joined by COMNAVSURFPAC CMDCM Charles “Chubbs” Smith for an episode full of jewels. The crew starts just catching up with each other to see how things are going. Chubbs talks about the power of having a squared-away uniform, remembering a sea story from his time as an undesignated Seamon. He then discusses passing on the legacy of service to his son, who’s currently enlisted in the Navy. Damo talks to Chubbs about being the “first-generation” of family members to achieve certain things. They discuss the idea of unapologetically being yourself. Tisha asks Chubbs about the differences between being a TYCOM Command Master Chief and being the CMC of a vessel/command. Chubbs remembers one of his craziest DRB experiences and talks about how he holds his Chiefs accountable in the event they violate UCMJ. Has the Navy recovered from COVID? Damo and Chubbs have a light debate about the differences they’ve seen in the recovery process. We can’t talk about Covid without discussing extremism. How did Chubbs’ TRIAD handle the protests? Experiences with racism are expressed. Chubbs drops some jewels for any Senior Enlisted Leader going to their first command. Board Eligible results are out! What’s next for eligible Sailors? Chubbs gives advice to all the Sailors that are up for Chief. Tish asks about marriage and personal life. Chubbs provides an entry to our #DoBetter segment about collateral duties and manning issues. Damon has a “selfish” #DoBetter for retirees.
 
Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - <a href='https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast'>https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast</a>
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Episode 110 | "Be That Leader" (Feat. CMDCM Charles "Chubbs" Smith)

About Our Guest:
 
Theresa Carpenter is an active-duty Navy Commander, with 10 years of enlisted time and where she has served for 28 years. Her passions include helping people succeed, protecting animals, moving past traumatic experiences, speaking up for positive change, and the professional development of the craft of public relations. As a reflective writer, she discusses the human experience for her blog, Theresa’s Tapestries. She has published in several media outlets and trade press, notably the War Horse and the Public Relations Society of America. Tapping into her love of storytelling through the visual medium, she shares her life journey and the stories of others in a raw, vulnerable, and always honest format. Her podcast S.O.S (Stories of Service), which she started in April 2020 and now has more than 100 episodes, features ordinary people from all walks of life who show up in service to their respective communities and are beacons of change. She is a co-author of the book Complicated Alliances, an anthology that tells the stories and struggles of women who serve in the military and those married to one who serves. She lives in the United Kingdom and is the Chief Public Affairs Officer for NATO's Allied Maritime Command.  
 
About The Episode:
 
Theresa Carpenter joins the podcast this week and the conversation starts about work. She talks about her NATO job and what motivated her to take this job outside of America. She discusses dealing with adult bullies at the workplace. She remembers what made her join the Navy. LCDR gives her opinion on GEDs and diplomas. How do Public Affairs Officers and Mass Communications Specialists interact? Damo has smoke for someone. Theresa and Damo talk shop and discuss podcasting. they talk about the importance of long-form unregulated content. Theresa discusses what she believes are the issues that the Navy is currently facing. The two discuss if the military cares about suicide. Can people be overly possessive about their relationships with their junior Sailors? Do policies and politics allow truth in reporting? Theresa discusses her best and worst military experiences. The conversation gets personal as Theresa speaks about her husband and her relationship with her mother.
 
Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - <a href='https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast'>https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast</a>
 
Keep up with Theresa Carpenter and all her links: https://beacons.ai/theresacarpenter
 
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Episode 109 | "When Everything's A Priority..." (Feat. Theresa Carpenter)

Recently retired Senior Chief Yeoman, Coby Turner joins the podcast to talk about retirement. He and Damo highlight how they met as CPO Season leads for their respective commands. He details a rare story about how the Navy messed up his government name at MEPS. The pod has a small discussion about planning and executing a CPO Initiation season. Coby reflects on what made him choose to retire when he did. He had a rough retirement year which led to some awesome breakthroughs. Coby was finally able to deal with a past loss as he received therapy during his retirement process. With a son who has recently enlisted in the Navy, Coby talks about how it feels to pass down the legacy of service. The gang plays a game of “This or That.” These and more topics are covered in this episode of the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.
 
 
Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - <a href='https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast'>https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast</a>
 
 
Additional Credits:
PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0

Damon Leggins and Andamo McCullough

Permission To Speak Freely by Damon Leggins and Andamo McCullough

Episodes