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.
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Episode 119 | "Die With The Lie" (Feat. YNC [SEL] CJ Pride)
2:18:03
2:18:03
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YN1 CJ Pride joins Damon and Damo, and with YN1 up for Chief this year, the conversation naturally starts with a talk about the FY25 CPO Season. To everyone who heard your name called today, congratulations, and best of luck through the season. Continue to lead. Fingers crossed that YN1 becomes YNC Select today. Damo asks YN1 for his opinion on the…
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Episode 118 | The Galley's New Dress Code
2:39:09
2:39:09
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This episode is dedicated to one of our fallen shipmates, Jorden Burleson—Fair Winds and Following Seas. Major shoutouts to our listeners—we missed y’all! Damo and Tisha catch up on date nights and cheering for your Sailors outside of the office. Damo opens up about his current command, while Tisha shares some details about her job. Damo reveals a …
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Young Sailors, listen up: working out is different as you age. Tisha’s sons are in town and making sure she’s straight. The fellas put her on game. Some Airbnb hosts are being creepy and recording their tenants in some of the most private areas of the residence. Damon details his experience checking into TPU Bangor, Washington. Damo has a question …
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Episode 116 | "What's The Standard?"
3:21:32
3:21:32
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The whole gang is here this go-round! Why not start with a conversation about summer safety. Damon addresses his absence. This is Damon’s first official PCS since the podcast began. The Presidential debate happened but what can we say about it? Damon asks for some advice on how to manage the Instagram algorithm. He also recaps his experience watchi…
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Episode 115 | "...Between Good and Great" (Feat. CMDCM Armon Owens)
1:53:46
1:53:46
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Damo is joined by published author, business owner, podcast host, and active-duty Command Master Chief, Armon Owens. They discuss “imposter syndrome” and what would give someone the audacity to write a book. They talk about being comfortable in your skin and using your unique abilities to stand out and be remembered. What does Big Boi and Andre 300…
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Bonus Episode | "Time Enough at Last"
1:26:56
1:26:56
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Damo is solo on this special Father’s Day bonus episode discussing some of his favorite books and how they impacted him as a father, leader, and human. *Clarification: Damo was skipped from the second to the third grade. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe o…
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Episode 114 | "The Yellow Brick Road" (Feat. YNCS Ashley Williams)
2:30:15
2:30:15
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No Damon, No Problem. LOL. Don’t tell him we said that. If you listened to our Women’s Panel earlier this year, we know you’re familiar with YNCS Ashley Williams. We appreciated her story so much, that we wanted to bring her on again. This time, she’s standing in for Damon as a guest host! Last week marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 82nd…
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Episode 113 | "Graded On A Curve" (Feat. MMN3 Zander Valterra & PS3 Monique Jones-Santana)
2:27:01
2:27:01
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*This episode includes conversations about sexual assault. Please see our ‘links’ section in this episode description for sexual assault prevention and response references.* Damon is back! The trio is finally back in full effect and this time two Third Class Petty Officers join them; MMN3 Zander Valterra and PS3 Monique Jones-Santana. They share th…
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Episode 112 | "Everything Is In Shambles"
2:08:15
2:08:15
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*This episode contains a conversation regarding domestic violence/ intimate partner abuse. If you are currently experiencing abuse and would like to report it, please contact your local / command / FFSC Family Advocacy Program representative or law enforcement. In addition, please contact the Veteran Crisis Line (all links below).* Damon is not aro…
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Damo and Tisha begin the episode discussing a comment they received on Instagram regarding “E4 and Junior” Sailors. A comment from a YouTube subscriber is highlighted and responded to. An Officer goes ballistic on a neighbor over trash cans. A 7th Fleet Officer was arrested for stealing sushi. A former Navy CO was killed during a child sex sting op…
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Oh, By the Way Ep. 14 - People, Places, & Things
1:55:26
1:55:26
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The guys start by analyzing the latest in hip-hop beef. One of the Sailors who stormed the Captial is asking for a lighter sentence so that he can continue service in the military. Should he be awarded that opportunity? An Army Reserve Major has pleaded guilty to scamming Gold Star Families in millions of dollars. The rest of the episode is dedicat…
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Episode 111 | "The Optics Are Wrong"
2:11:11
2:11:11
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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. …
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Episode 110 | "Be That Leader" (Feat. CMDCM Charles "Chubbs" Smith)
2:24:19
2:24:19
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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 …
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Episode 109 | "When Everything's A Priority..." (Feat. Theresa Carpenter)
1:56:19
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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 reflec…
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Episode 108 | "How Do I Retire?" (Feat. Coby Turner)
1:41:23
1:41:23
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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. Cob…
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[BONUS EPISODE] Permission To Speak Freely Presents... The Women's Panel (Hosted by Tisha)
2:05:58
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Tisha kicked out the guys for our Women’s History Month panel and the ladies chop it up on this one! The panel, hosted by Tisha, includes ABE2 Marina Griffin, YN1 Ashlie Beaver, LCDR Emily Curran, YNCS Ashley Williams, and LS1 Stephanie Confer. They discuss the importance of having female representation in male-dominated fields. Ashlie Beaver talke…
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Episode 107 | "U Not Even a Brotha"
2:12:42
2:12:42
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No guests in this episode, so let the shenanigans ensue. Damo led his first FLDC and had an eye-opening experience. Damon is supporting local businesses. Tisha is telling men if they are men or not. Should Damo get OC sprayed for the culture? Damon reminisces all his OC horror stories. The trio revisits the idea of a 4-Day work week as the Bernie S…
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Episode 106 | "Investing In People" (Feat. LCDR Alexis Travis)
1:30:22
1:30:22
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Mental Health Advocate, Active Duty Naval Officer, Mother, and Wife - LCDR Alexis Travis joins Tisha and Damo on this episode. Damon is on travel, making the Navy a better place. This episode opens with some jokes about being married. LCDR Travis discusses her past as a distance runner and what motivates her. She discusses the very special reason w…
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Episode 105 | "Been There, Done That" (Feat. Paul Kingsbury, FLTCM, Ret.)
2:36:37
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About our guest: Paul Kingsbury is a retired Fleet Master Chief (U.S. Fleet Forces Command) with 31 years of service. He currently serves as the Director of Uniformed Service Relations at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. He’s the host of the ‘Cutlass Podcast,’ a podcast specializing in leadership lessons and guidance. He’s authored or co-aut…
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#Do Better | "Win Everyday - B. GREAT" (Feat. Captain Gervy Alota)
12:22
12:22
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**LISTEN TO EPISODE 104 BEFORE LISTENING TO THIS* Please forgive us for any issues, however, the final 12 minutes was cut off of Episode 104 (Feat. Captain Gervy Alota) and we want to make sure you hear it. Sorry for any confusion.By Damon Leggins and Andamo McCullough
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Episode 104 | "It’s Gonna Be Epic!" (Feat. Captain Gervy Alota)
3:35:31
3:35:31
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Captain Gervy Alota joins the show for an obviously epic episode! He starts from the beginning - Southeast, San Diego. He recounts stories of escaping a lifestyle in the streets and getting into football at an early age. He speaks about how his Father introducing him to football turned into him becoming a starter on the USNA Football team where he …
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Damo and Tish have the helm on this one, opening the episode up with a discussion on some of the latest uniform policy changes (NAVADMIN 031/24). One of the major changes is that Sailors can now put their hands in their pockets, but do we really care? Damo reads a message from a Sailor regarding DMAP Phase IV before a deep dive into the new NAVADMI…
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Episode 102 | "Comedy Karaoke" (Feat. Chalee Jr)
1:32:27
1:32:27
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AZ1 Charlie Lee Jr, professionally known as “Chalee Jr” is an actor, a comedian, and an active-duty Navy Sailor. He became one of the first military social media content creators with his comedy skits in the mid-2010s and has since taken his show on the road. As he is on his way to retirement, he can be found on the stage as a member of the DDTOUR1…
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Episode 101 | "Standing On Business" (Feat. FORCM Bill Houlihan)
1:53:02
1:53:02
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Damon, Damo, and Tish start this episode joined by the Navy Personnel Command Force Master Chief, FORCM (SW/AW) William P. Houlihan. They open the conversation addressing NAVADMIN 006/24, Policy For the Assignment of Pregnant Sailors and Sailors Who Experience Perinatal Loss. FORCM discusses the feedback that was received after the release of the N…
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[Bonus Episode] Episode 1 | "The One About Hidden Pilots"
1:29:53
1:29:53
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*Recorded in October 2020 in Damon's dining room in California - "Where it all started"* You know how we always say that we started the podcast with the second episode that we recorded? Well, in commemoration of our 100th episode, we decided to finally release the episode that we thought was so bad that we didn't want you to hear it in the first pl…
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Damon, Damo, and Tish celebrate reaching the 100th episode milestone by reminiscing on the early days of the ‘Permission To Speak Freely’ podcast. Damo gives an update on the baby and upcoming guests. Guess what guys, it’s an election year! Do we care? Do we not care? Who the hell are you voting for anyway? Tisha asks the guys what major life exper…
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Welcome to our last podcast episode in double digits. Damo Starts by shouting out the people who are a few weeks late on their New Year’s resolutions. It’s time to get it going. Damon and Damo take a moment to give Tisha her flowers in celebration of her hitting the year mark as a PTSF host. We have a conversation about understanding the fact that …
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Episode 98 | "Fighting The Good Fight"
2:49:38
2:49:38
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Happy MLK Day. Find a moment in your day to reflect on the heroism, leadership, and brave acts of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. Tish is back and ready for Valentine’s Day already! It’s time to start submitting packages for selection boards and Damo isn’t that motivated due to recent changes in selection a…
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Episode 97 | ”So, You Dropped The Pack?”
2:49:33
2:49:33
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The guys start by getting caught up on how they bought in their New Year’s. Damon’s turning over his roles as he’s waiting to hear what his next command is. Damo talks about returning to work following an extended period of leave. He also talks about coming back and having to directly deal with adversity. The internet was set ablaze last week with …
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Episode 96 | ”It Was Waay Too Quiet”
1:56:39
1:56:39
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Happy New Year People! We wanted to start this episode off by talking about some Navy stuff. However, Damo had a weird exchange on Twitter and wanted to share the story. Additionally, another crazy thing happened; a brother shoots his brother for killing their sister because she stopped them from arguing over Christmas gifts. The guys chop it up ab…
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Episode 95 | ”What’s Happening Brother?”
2:21:31
2:21:31
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First off, Merry Christmas! The guys kick off this special holiday episode with Christmas vibes! From a holiday song to discussing their Christmas memories as they’ve transitioned from junior enlisted to senior enlisted Sailors. Oh my, how time changes things. Damon and Damo reminisce about their grandmothers who are no longer here. Remember, to ch…
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After discussing scams and their warning signs, Damon, Damo, and Tisha debate whether the glorification of liberty can potentially hurt the outlook of Sailors. If you want to watch/hear full episodes of Permission To Speak Freely, check out our merchandise, or connect with us on social media, please visit our website. https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast…
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Tish went to go see the new Beyoncé movie. Of course, Damo has some pressure for her fandom. It’s commissioning ceremony season. Congratulations to everyone making their transitions! What’s a food you love that you weren’t introduced to until you joined the military? Damon shows up a little late and fires off from the jump! How old is too old for ‘…
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Episode 93 | ”Another Feather in the Cap”
1:53:36
1:53:36
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Congratulations are in order for all of our newly promoted Shipmates! Since this is the episode before Thanksgiving that won’t be heard until after, the guys and Tish discuss thanksgiving plans that will be memories by the time you hear this. What would it take for you to eat thanksgiving dinner on your ship if you’re not on duty or a member of the…
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Episode 92 | ”Well, Technically” (Feat. YN2 Alonzo Robinson)
2:53:52
2:53:52
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On this episode, the trio are joined by active-duty Yeoman Second Class Petty Officer Alonzo “Lonzo” Robinson for a conversation about culture and some differences between Senior and junior enlisted Sailors. Veteran’s Day deals are briefly covered. Congratulations to all Sailors of the Year, but why is Damo so tight? A discussion around the privile…
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It’s our 3-Year Anniversary! No shots this time but please celebrate with us. 3 years of sea stories and poop tales. The trio begins the episode discussing their most memorable moments of the year. They also talk through some of their favorite episodes and least favorite moments. They discuss the expectations vs the reality of hosting a podcast tha…
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Damo and Tisha show up on this Halloween episode. They get right to it starting with a brand new #DoBetter segment. Both of these are focused on the Khaki Ball. Damo had to learn him something about Air Department on the Carrier and give them their flowers. During a recent trip to the Airport, Tisha finds out that she’s been “cut off” from her acti…
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No Tisha on this one as Damon and Damo start this episode talking about RA duty. Damo has an update on the five year old feedback report that he’s been dealing with. The two discusses their most embarrassing moments as Chiefs, that happened in front of junior Sailors. It’s about time to finally address why you always see Chiefs hanging out at the p…
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Damon and Damo start this episode making excuses for why they haven’t released an episode for a while. Tisha joins the episode a little late and adds value to the “excuse” conversation. Happy 248th birthday to the Navy! Rest well to all the Sailors we lost on the USS Cole on 12 Oct 2000. What the hell did Will Smith do to get him in the eternal dog…
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The Fan Room - Pizza w/ Wesley Pinkney
1:51:28
1:51:28
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** Originally released 23 February 2022** On this episode, Damo sits down with one of his longtime friends and business partner, Wesley Pinkney. Wesley Pinkney is a retired Navy Chief with a really interesting story. He talks about it all from what made him join the Navy, how he was able to retire in only 13 years, and his inspiration behind the Pi…
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The Fan Room - 2021 w/ Angelene McCullough
2:19:54
2:19:54
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**THIS EPISODE WAS RELEASED 1 JANUARY 2021** Andamo sits down with his wife, Angelene, to discuss all things 2021. They talk about early pain and late victories. They also discuss their top movies, tv shows, and albums (or artists, or songs, or whatever) of the year. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to review, like, subscribe, comment, …
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** THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED 1 JANUARY 2022** Welcome to the Fan Room! In this inaugural episode of "The Fan Room," Andamo "Damo" McCullough sits down with an old friend and fellow music lover, Gregory Davidson. The two discuss music, the Navy, and Greg's life on the road as a sound engineer. More Information from this episode: Gregory D…
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The Fan Room - Impact w/ Steven Pierre
1:45:08
1:45:08
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**PLEASE READ** New episodes of 'Permission To Speak Freely' will be available soon. In the meantime, we are absorbing all of 'The Fan Room' into all of our PTSF channels. Please enjoy the episodes. **THIS EPISODE WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED 21 MARCH 2022** Damo sits with friend and Navy veteran, Steven Pierre. The two discuss "High Year Tenure" and th…
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Episode 87 | Ballad of John and ”Day-Mo” (Feat. John Quillin)
2:33:42
2:33:42
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Damo and Tisha are joined by retired ABFC, John Quillin. John was one of Damo’s facilitators when he attended his course to be a Command Navy Leader Development Facilitator. John discusses many elements from the Naval Leadership and Ethics command including some of the major exercises and content from the Leader Development courses. Whats the diffe…
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Episode 86 | ”Pop-A-Lock” *Fixed Audio*
2:11:20
2:11:20
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There is no such thing as a podcast without a Beyoncé debate. Here is ours. Are we ready for a Fleet Week in Miami? Should an E2 be driving around in a Tesla? The trio discusses some of the most toxic Navy eras that they can remember. Damon and Tisha debate if Cecily Aguilar’s 30-year sentence was fair or unfair. Damo asks if anyone has ever suppor…
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Episode 85 | ”What Do I Do With My Hands?”
1:48:05
1:48:05
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Tisha is actually a part of this episode. It’s just very hard to hear her. CPO Initiation season is officially upon us and Damon discusses feeling disconnected from season events due to his job schedule. Football season is upon us as well! Damon is finally picking Master Chief billets. He explains why he wouldn’t want to serve on the same ship as h…
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Episode 84 | PRESS ”100” NOW! (Feat. CMDCS Aaron Paul)
1:51:00
1:51:00
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Congratulations to all the CPO Selectees! Remember, you only get ONE season so soak it up and take advantage of the opportunity. Damon and Damo are joined once again by CMDCS Aaron Paul. Damo and Aaron were both members of the current CPO Selection boards and they are here to tell the tale. Damo’s visit to Millington started out pretty eventful as …
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Oh, By the Way Ep. 12 - The Double Back
1:46:04
1:46:04
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Tisha and Damo hold down this episode, covering a wide range of topics, to include what to expect from our next episode. The cat’s out the bag as Damo confesses that he sat this year’s CPO Selection board and cannot wait to talk about it next week. A Virginia Beach Sailor recently hit the jackpot for 1.8 million. What would you do if you were in hi…
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Tisha is back off of her vacation so the gang is in full form! To celebrate the 50th birthday of Hip Hop, the trio discusses their favorite eras of the music genre. There was a big time riverboat fight in Alabama that everyone is discussing. Is the “ball cap toss” a universal sign of distress? What is your worst (non-casualty related) fear on a Nav…
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Welp, Football is back! It’s definitely an exciting time of the year for Damon. Another Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) to start of the episode. What do you think is the best command coin?Have you ever wondered what’s it’s like to stand Resident Advisor (RA) watch in the barracks? What does it mean to let “power go to your head” in an organization …
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