Damon, Damo, and Tisha are joined by Catherine Butler and Jamal Mays, who share their stories of joining the Navy, the challenges they faced, and their reflections on service and retirement. The discussion highlights the diverse paths individuals take within the Navy and the impact of their experiences on their lives. This conversation explores the…

Damo and Tisha open the episode by discussing workplace arguments. Damo reads a comment responding to a PTSF YouTube short. Tisha explains why she “quit” social media. Is retirement really so hard? Prayers to everyone who has been impacted by this current Hurricane season. The Navy is celebrating our 249th birthday! Make sure you do it in accordanc…

DISCLAIMER: The speaker(s) are NOT health professionals and do not intend any of the content of this podcast as health advice. If you need professional health advice, please seek out your closest military or civilian health providers immediately. DISCLAIMER: The speaker(s) are NOT mental health professionals and do not intend any of the content of …

OSC Maurice Gibson, also known as Sir Lunchtime, joins the pod to chop it up with Damo in the absence of Damon and Tish. Though Sir Lunchtime is a food influencer by night, his day job is as an inspector for the Afloat Training Group (ATG) in San Diego. They start the discussion by discussing the role of inspectors and the impact they can have at a…

Commander Desmond Walker (USS Stout) checked into the pod for a conversation that we’d been waiting to have. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, they touch on the importance of mental health awareness, going into a very stressful holiday season. They also discuss the disconnect between some Navy policies and their implementation at the command le…

ITCM Amaury Ponciano returns to the show to discuss various topics, including his book 'Anchored in Resilience'. He also touches on sensitive subjects such as sexual assault and family dynamics. Amaury shares his motivation for writing the book and challenges in discussing certain aspects of his life. He recalls the reactions of family members to t…

DCC Cody Osgood came by to discuss the life of a Recruit Division Commander (RDC) at Naval Station Great Lakes. He went from an E5 to an E6 while stationed in Great Lakes. Cody begins by discussing why he joined the Navy. Damo goes left and gets on his soapbox very early in this episode. Cody returns to his story, detailing how he initially felt ab…

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…

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 …

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

*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…

*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…

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…

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…

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. …

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

**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

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 …

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…

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…

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…

*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…

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…

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 …

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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 ‘…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

** 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…

**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, …

** 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…

**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…