Waypoints podcast

Hi everyone - we are thrilled to introduce this podcast episode! For this recording, we were so very honored and excited to be joined by Ms. Mouzetta Zumwalt-Weathers (daughter of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., CNO 19), who came on the podcast to talk with us about her father's legacy, the 50th anniversary event, and what it was like to be a teenager in the house of the CNO during such a dynamic and combustible period in the history of the US Navy.  Please join us and listen... forgive us as we get a bit overcome at times, especially as we talk with Mouzetta about how her father's vision and changemaking directly impacted our lives. Mouzetta joined USNA Women for the 50th anniversary events, and we celebrate the knowledge that her father's leadership helped shape a world where all of us were able to attend the Academy and serve in the Navy and Marine Corps ... talk about a full circle moment. Thank you, Mouzetta! You are carrying the torch of your father's legacy - which lives on through all of us today - and we are so very grateful! Thank you as well to the voices of the USNA Women's Glee Club and for the support of the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation for this podcast.

Please join us for our last live episode from the 50th! This time, we get to sit down with the amazing CAPT Tasya Lacy, USNA '97, to talk about family, service, track, singing, and inclusion. We overlapped with Tasya at USNA, so it was fantastic to reconnect with her - especially as the events of the 50th surrounded us and lifted us up. And - since this was the morning after the Gala - we got to talk about how it felt to dance and celebrate as a group after all of these years. This is our final live episode, BUT -- stay tuned... we have a number of post-50th podcasts coming up, to include an interview with Ms. Mouzetta Zumwalt-Weathers, the youngest child of CNO 19, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr. We are on a high from all of these. Thank you for being willing to join us and talk, Tasya! You inspire us and it was so wonderful to reconnect! Thank you as well to the USNA Women's Glee Club for sharing your amazing voices and to the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation for your continued, irreplaceable support of our work! And thank you to Natasha Schleper and Chris Servillo (99) for being rock star editors!

We are so excited to share this episode from the 50th, where Shannon, Jenn, and Jeannette had the opportunity to sit down with Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) 33 (and, if you've been living under a rock, the first female CNO)! We recorded this on Saturday, April 18, just before she sat down for a fireside chat as part of the 50th events. If you can't tell from our voices, we were kind of overwhelmed at having the chance to speak with her and hear about her experiences and perspective. Talk about coming full circle... a theme which we will revisit in another podcast coming shortly after this one. Please join us as we learn from ADM Franchetti - about her journey from journalism student at Northwestern through her launch into the surface Navy and eventual appointment as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations. And so much in between. Thank you to ADM Franchetti for being generous with your time, for making us cry, and for staying from start to finish to celebrate this momentous occasion. You inspire us, ma'am - THANK YOU!

Hi everyone - this is our second episode live from the 50th events April 16-19, 2026. Please join us this time as we get the opportunity to speak with and learn from RADM Julius Caesar (Ret.), Class of '77 -- Distinguished Graduate, retired Surface Warfare Officer, leader in the Naval Academy Minority Association SIG, and all around amazing human being! He was on hand to support the women of USNA at the 50th and joined us for a mini-episode. Again, please excuse our exuberance in the podcast -- our big feelings and consumption of copious amounts of caffeine continued in this epside. Thank you so much to RADM Caesar for joining us and for being a leader and ally. This was such a fun conversation ... and we got to think about what it would be like to show up for Plebe Summer with the name "Julius Caesar" -- that must have been character-building! Please stay tuned for additional mini-episodes in the coming week.

Ok y'all - for the next few episodes, we'll be featuring speakers and special guests live from the Annapolis events to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of women at USNA! These are shorter episodes that we managed to record amidst the craziness - thanks to our guests, who were willing to miss out on a few minutes of the broader programming. Our first guest was LtGen Lori Reynolds, USMC (Ret.), from the class of 1986. LtGen Reynolds was one of the speakers on the "Warfighters Answering the Call" panel, which focused on the key roles of women in warfighting roles in the military. Please join us as we talk with LtGen Reynolds just as the events get rolling! And you'll have to excuse our exuberance in the podcast... we had lots of caffeine and lots of feelings. Thank you to LtGen Reynolds for giving us her time and energy - and to John Schofield and the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation team for their fantastic, invaluable support! In fact, we recorded these on their equipment, so any weird sounds or mistakes are due to our rookie-ness.

It's the week of the 50th anniversary events in Annapolis (and West Point and Colorado Springs)...in anticipation of the events, Jeff Webb '95, President and CEO of the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation, met with Jeannette at the Fluegel Alumni Center in Annapolis.  Please join us to learn about Jeff's path from the cycling team and ocean engineering at Navy to the SEAL teams to Run to Honor and the private sector ... and onto the Alumni Association and Foundation. And also -- Tainted Love, Welcome to the Jungle, and Nirvana.  Thank you to Jeff and the entire Alumni Association and Foundation team for all of the support (and hosting) you're providing for the 50th anniversary events! We are so grateful for your support and leadership! Thank you as well to Chris Servillo '99 and Natasha Schleper for your magnificent editing, for John Schofield for all of the support you've given us over the past year, and to the USNA Women's Glee Club for lending us your voices for the opening and closing music.

Maybe we'll just keep going until you've heard from EVERY woman in '98! We don't know about you all, but we've thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with our classmates and being reminded of how absolutely awesome they are.  This time, Sara Stires and Tara Golden join from Annapolis and the greater Norfolk area with Shannon and Jeannette to discuss animals, the DFC, Glee Club, and the importance of recognizing the right path when you sense it. We're also adding a trigger warning in here - we talked about some painful memories in this episode, including a squadron mishap, mental health, and some bad plebe year experiences. If this is not a good time for you to listen, please consider holding off and tuning in down the road when you're ready. Thank you to Sara and Tara! We loved talking with you and if we'd planned ahead, we could have maybe thrown a song or two into this unplanned mini Glee Club reunion.  And next weekend is the 50th anniversary event -- hope to see many, many of you there!

Haven't had your fill of the women from '98 yet? We know, we get it - you want to hear from MORE of us. Of course you do! So...(drum roll)...we're excited to share Part 1 of a 2.5-part series - where the women of SOMB talk with their classmates. This week, Jen (Schulze) Salisbury, Susanne Wienrich, and Sarah Rollings, all 98ers, join from Maui, Salt Lake City, and London with Shannon and Jeannette to talk about the 50th anniversary, being a "girl" one in the 90s (and today), and some truly awful songs (Tubthumping anyone?). And a bunch of things. Also, you may notice that Jen's answer to one of the final questions - our reflections on the coming 50th and what's changed, what hasn't, and where we still see challenges - is missing. It's been edited out for now, and it will be the focus of a podcast later this year (spring? summer?) and Jen, Susanne, and Sarah may join us again for that one.  Part 2 - with two more 98 women (we won't tell you their names yet) - is next in line and will hopefully be in your queue in another two weeks. Last thing: we've learned that Jen is a prolific podcaster! We're thrilled to share a link to her podcast on her website here - https://www.mylifeasalandlord.com. She discusses landlord and tenancy issues, real estate investments and development, and more. Please take a look! She has like 5 times as many podcast episodes out there as we do, it's fantastic.

Please join Shannon and Jeannette for a deep, wonderful, and inspiring discussion with Lauren (Narducci) Symmes '00! Besides being married to a '98 classmate (shout out to Mark), she is also full of wisdom, strength, and some really fantastic ideas. We talk about everything from the 40th and 50th anniversaries of women at the service academies... to learning how to study as a plebe... to losing bets with your plebes... to the Tootsee Roll song. Lauren gave us some fantastic ideas and made us remember how much there is to celebrate! And if you don't remember the Tootsee Roll song (like Jeannette) and end up googling it, we're sorry... Thank you to the Women's Glee Club, to Chris Servillo '99 and Natasha Schleper for editing, and to John Schofield and the entire Alumni Association and Foundation team for your support of our work!

We did something new this week as we build up to the 50th! Five amazing women from the great class of '95 joined Kate and Jeannette for a wide-ranging discussion... we had Molly Boron joining us from Maryland, Heidi Huerter Lenzini joining us from Virginia, Megan Humbert Schwartz joining us from the UK, Motisola Bowman joining us from Virginia, and Rachel Medrano Oden joining us from California.  Each time we have these discussions, we are so humbled by the backgrounds, achievements, and experiences of our Navy alumnae! And '95 did not disappoint. Please join us to hear about NAPS, what it was like to start plebe year in the shadow of the Tailhook scandal, and flying, floating, and leading in the Navy. We also talk about funeral homes, how Morrissey's songs all sound the same (sorry, Rachel), and sailing around the world. Thank you to Molly, Megan, Motisola, Rachel, and Heidi for taking time out of your Saturday to talk with us - and to Heidi for organizing! Thank you to the USNA Women's Glee Club as well and to the USNA AA&F for your fantastic support of this work (and to Natasha for your masterful editing)! Until next time...onward to the 50th!

Please join us at Waypoints as we get to talk with another amazing USNA alumna in advance of the 50th anniversary events this spring! Today we get to meet and speak with Julie (Nichols) Kubal, class of '96 and New York City native...please listen in as we talk about fencing (which just sounds cool), loneliness, and the importance of connections. We also discuss Julie's career changes... from astro engineering and the NFO world to her work as a family photographer in the DC area (see her site at https://juliekubal.com). And while we don't talk about the Talking Heads, Cake, and the Violent Femmes when we discuss music and memories at USNA, we should have...so we're adding these in the notes (note for listeners: Julie and her roommate, Pauline, also listened to A Tribe Called Quest, Nirvana, George Michael, Mary J Blige, Arrested Development, De La Soul, and Digable Planets...) Thank you for listening! And if you haven't registered for the 50th Anniversary events yet, you should do so RIGHT NOW before it fills up!  

Please join us as we continue our Waypoints podcasts in support of the 50th Anniversary of women at the Military Service Academies - and as we talk with and learn from Jill Richards '94. Jill service selected as an NFO into the P-3C community before her career took an sharp turn -- after nearly 36 years in uniform, Jill recently retired and is the owner and Chief Catalyst at Catalysis Acupuncture in Bend, Oregon. Jill also works with the SAN on trauma recovery and recently authored an article in Shipmate about trauma and recovery: https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/article/WRESTLING+WITH+TRAUMA/5068014/856414/article.html Please join us as we discuss diving (and the 10 meter tower), gender, and the 50th anniversary of women at the academy. Thank you to Jill! And thank you to the USNA Women's Glee Club and to the Alumni Association and Foundation for the support!

For this episode, we're taking a break from our 50th anniversary podcasts to dive into some current events in important ways. Our 50th podcasts will pick back up in the next two weeks with interviews with women from '94 and '95. Women in combat - specifically, women in previously-closed combat occupations and combat arms units - have been in the news recently. Earlier this month, the Department of Defense announced that it was launching an "independent review" of the "effectiveness" of women in combat arms units. As so many of us have been part of integration in various forms - from the opening of the service academies to women in the 80s through the removal of restrictions on women in combat aircraft and on combat ships in the 90s and through the opening of previously-closed specialties in the 2010s - we felt this topic would make a fitting one for us to cover in the leadup to the 50th anniversary. (Here's another article about the review underway and the response of some military and veteran women to the news: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/women-react-review-combat-jobs/). Please join us as Jeannette and Jenn meet and speak with Beth Wolny, LtCol USMCR (Ret.), who led research for the Marine Corps in the buildup to the opening of ground combat specialties a decade ago. Beth is a wealth of information - our conversation covers the scope and scale of research that the Corps conducted over those years, the absence of standards before integration and how integration has allowed strong, gender-neutral standards to be set, and what the impacts of integration have been. Beth is working on a book about her experiences -- if you want to learn more about her work and gender integration in the Corps, you can visit her blog, where she covers a wide range of topics: https://breakingintothebrotherhood.com. Thank you! And thank you to the USNA AA&F for the support, Chris Servillo '99 and Natasha Schleper for editing our work, and the USNA Women's Glee Club for lending us your voices

Hi everyone - please join us for an insightful discussion about disordered eating and its roots with USNA alumna Lauren Narducci Symmes '00 and her daughter Lorelai Symmes! Lorelai is a first-year doctoral student whose research broadly focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence the development and maintenance of body image disturbances and disordered eating, particularly during childhood and adolescence. She is especially interested in how disordered eating behaviors are developed and transmitted, including through familial influences. Her prior research has explored the role of psychological inflexibility in disordered eating, the comorbidity of eating disorders and substance use disorders, and the efficacy of in-person versus virtual body image interventions.  We at SOMB have discussed disordered eating and eating disorders in past episodes, and given that military servicemembers and dependents may be at increased risk of developing eating disorders compared to the general population (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37493029/), we felt this discussion would be particularly useful for this community. Jeannette and her middle child, Juliette, cohost this episode. A few notes and sources:  - In the podcast, Jeannette briefly - and vaguely - mentions the origins of BMI. To learn more (and do so accurately, not off the top of Jeannette's head), here are a few sources. BMI was developed by a Belgian mathematician as a way of referencing the "average man" - women and people of different races and ethnicities were largely excluded.  -- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-02/the-problem-with-the-body-mass-index-bmi/100728416  -- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10693914/  - More info about military servicemembers, dependents and eating disorders:  -- https://sea-waves.org/resources/the-hidden-toll-of-military-service-eating-disorders-in-children-of-service-members  -- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/04/15/1092065671/the-military-might-be-creating-a-perfect-storm-for-eating-disorders  - Disordered eating vs eating disorders:  -- https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/disordered-eating-and-dieting#:~:text=Disordered%20eating%20sits%20on%20a,irregular%20or%20inflexible%20eating%20patterns.  - Some sources on intergenerational impacts (Lorelai may share more, and we'll upload those if so!):  -- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-024-01088-8  -- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740144516302480#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20a%20grandmother%20with,her%20mother's%20behaviors%20and%20attitudes. There are more sources out there, but here's a start...      

Please join the Sisterhood today as we meet and talk with Kimberly Walz '92! Kim was a plankowner of the USNA women's lacrosse team, rowed crew, and bench pressed her body weight on the powerlifting team...and then went on to serve on active duty and in the reserves (where she still serves as a RDML!). We spoke of NAPS versus USNA, resilience, the importance of having leaders who look for ways to help us bring out our strengths (and stay engaged), and Guns n Roses (Welcome to the Jungle).  Thank you, Kim, for joining us and for your positive and fantastic insights and stories! We loved this discussion with. And, because we're publishing this the night before the Army-Navy game, BEAT ARMY...

Please join us to listen to and learn from Stefanie Goebel '80, Chair of the Survivor Advocacy Network (SAN). Stefanie has joined us before in her personal capacity (in 2019!), but this time she comes on the pod to talk with us about the SAN, its origins, scope, and so much more. We are incredibly grateful to Stefanie for her willingness to come back on and share her expertise and energy with us -- this was a hard but needed discussion. THANK YOU, Stefanie! Before you listen, please be aware that we discuss sensitive topics, including sexual assault, in this episode. Survivors and others may be triggered by the content. As Stefanie shared, what that means is that they may unexpectedly feel especially strong emotions, disoriented/confused, flushed, very anxious, or depressed. This may happen DURING the podcast or AFTER. To deal with the feelings, they should first recognize that they are triggered, then be willing to do some self care through a variety of options. They can: do some simple deep breathing; take a hot shower, take a long walk, talk to a friend, or write about what they are feeling. All these things usually help us "self-regulate" or return to feeling more like ourselves again. Second, Stefanie shared a list of resources with us. We're unable to attach those here, but please reach out to Stefanie at the address below or to us at [email protected] and we can share those resources. They are also linked below. Also, from the SAN: To donate to the SAN's in person Renewal & Recovery Retreat for service academy alumnae: go to USNA Women donation page ( https://myusna.com/topics/9176/page/donate ) then select "donate here" on the "USNA Women: Building a Legacy for the Future" option (first of two options). On the resulting page choose "Renewal & Recovery Retreat" in the "purpose" field. SAN Website: https://www.survivoradvocacynetwork.org/ SAN Youtube channel (for past webinar recordings): https://www.youtube.com/@SurvivorAdvocacyNetwork SAN Resource List for Survivors To contact Stefanie: [email protected] or [email protected] Thank you to Stefanie for sharing her time, energy, and passion with us!

Aaaaand we're in the 90s now! (The best decade... kidding.) Please join Jeannette and Shannon as we talk with Kristin (Dryfuse) Barnes '92, F-14 RIO, doctor of naturopathic medicine, Ironman triathlete, author of Haysoos the Honu, and so much more. Ask her how she got her call sign, Rosie... news flash, it's not because of Rosie the Riveter. We're talking about Navy jet squadrons in the 90s, after all. Kristin is brilliant, a crazy impressive athlete, and was one of the first women to enter the F-14 community and knock down barriers right after women were finally allowed into combat aviation. As if that isn't enough, she then went back to school and earned two master's degrees and a doctorate. Her bio is impressive... and talking to her was even more fun than reading her bio! Please join us and listen to her story - and if you're interested, check out her children's book (Haysoos the Honu)! Thank yous: Thank you to the USNA Women's Glee Club for letting us use their beautiful voices! We also want to put in a plug for our fellow USNA AA&F Fleet of Podcasts: Sing Second, Navy Football, Anchors Aweigh, and Academy Insider. The USNA AA&F is now supporting the Waypoints podcast by covering the editing costs for us through the 50th Anniversary next spring! And we're sharing notes from the AA&F to help spread the word: Army/Navy game is December 13! Navy and Army uniforms were revealed this week, and the game button from the AA&F is out on their instagram page (@usnaalumni). Service Assignment Day is November 20. Last year, Class of 2025 had 787 total Navy assignments and 262 total Marine Corps assignments for a total of 1,049 for the class.  For Daily Shipmate and Podcast Fleet supporters: "Do you have a business? Or maybe you work for a company that wants to connect with the Naval and Marine Corps community? Either way, we want to hear from you. Daily Shipmate and our Fleet of Podcasts reach thousands of alumni every day around the globe. Sponsoring these platforms is an awesome way to get in front of fellow alumni, support Navy programs, and spotlight your business to a trusted, seriously engaged audience. So whether you're an alum-owned business, part of a company that gives back, or serving local folks in D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, or folks anywhere, this is your chance to plug into the Navy network. Shoot us an email at [email protected] and let's chat." Wreaths Across America - if you support this effort each year, this year's drive still needs help - 700 wreaths shy of the total of 2,900 needed. If you can spare the change please help. Each wreath is $17.00 and by going to this sitewreathsacrossamerica.org/md0011 for every three wreaths you buy USNA will get the 4th for free. Thank you!  

We took a brief hiatus with this episode to dig into current event. This past Spring, after officials at USNA removed a display of Jewish women graduates from the Jewish Midshipman Center, Shannon and Carrie sat down to talk with our '98 classmate, Misty Hechinger, about the incident as well as being a Jewish woman at USNA and in the fleet. This wide-ranging discussion touched on the challenges of being a dual minority, leading a diverse force, and what we can do to support midshipmen, young officers, and each other moving forward.

Our celebration of the 50th continues through the 1980s as we speak with Marie (Schanz) Burris, Class of 1986. Those of you who are part of the 50th anniversary committee for USNA will recognize Marie's name and voice, since she's heading up the planning for the 50th and all that comes with it. Please join us as we learn from Marie and her journey, her strength and resilience, and her thoughts on leadership. We discuss how our experiences at USNA and in the fleet can shape whether we stay in or get out, how we lead, and our concerns about backpedaling. Also: we talk about Aretha Franklin.  And we would be failing if we didn't include the link to sign up for the Early Bird Registration for the 50th Anniversary celebration:  The "Screaming Early Bird" saves you $175 from the regular priced tickets, so don't miss out on this amazing deal! Registration link: https://SignUpNow.Events/USNAWomen50 This special weekend will take place from April 16-19, 2026, in Annapolis at the Fluegel Alumni Center (FAC) and the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (NMCMS). The weekend will have inspiring speakers, panelists, valuable networking opportunities, featured USNA Women artists and authors, and celebrations that include: Thursday, April 16th: Golf Outing Thursday, April 16th: Welcoming reception (FAC) Friday, April 17th: Day 1 Conference (NMCMS) and Gala (FAC) Saturday, April 18th: Day 2 Conference (NMCMS) Sunday, April 19th: First Class Welcome (Welcoming Class of 2026) (FAC)

Hi everyone! Somehow, the long and fancy episde description we submitted with the podcast didn't fully upload. Please excuse the mistake... and see the details, below.  Please join SOMB today as we talk with Pamela K. Pitkin, USNA '82. We spent an afternoon with Pamela discussing the great class of 82, life at USNA, life beyond USNA, and what she thinks about as the 50th approaches.  Pamela also asked that we include a few notes here as corrections: Regarding men in the SOSUS field, many SOSUS male officers were to sent to the SOSUS community when they were too senior to discharge and not allowed to advance in either nuclear subs or aviation units.   During 1978 - 1982, I believe there were about 200 women to 4,200 men. Now there are closer to 1200 women  to 4,200 men, improving the dynamics between all midshipmen.    And finally, Pamela interacted with many professional officers who were outside her chain of command while commissioned. In her chain of command, however, there were very few who cared to acknowledge how she was being railroaded out of the United States Navy.   Please join us for the conversation!

Continuing the work to share stories from alumnae across the classes in support of the 50th anniversary of women at the Military Service Academies, in this episode, we interview an alumna of the Class of 1983, Tatjana Qadada.  Tatjana's story is an incredibly powerful one, and we are grateful to her for her willingness to share it with us so that we can better understand the deep, significant challenges faced by women both at USNA and beyond over the past half century. We hope you all listen to her story and understand how important hearing it is. As Tatjana's story drives home, the stories of women at Annapolis may be ones of courage, strengthm and resilience, but those qualities also may reveal themselves in conjunction with deeper trauma. This episode, as with past episodes, includes descriptions of sexual assault and other forms of violence. We are grateful to Tatjana and to so many of you for trusting us with your stories and with lessons that you have learned from the trauma you've experienced and the steps you've taken as life progressed to seek healing.  We also want to share a key resource that was started and is led by Service Academy alumna: the Survivor Advocacy Network (https://www.survivoradvocacynetwork.org). We encourage each of you to visit the site and see what they do. Thank you all - and thank you particularly to Tatjana Qadada, USNA '83, for trusting us with her story! 

As our celebration of the 50th anniversary through Waypoints podcasts continues, please join Jeannette and Shannon as we talk with three women from '81 and '82 - Mary Brigden and Peggy Metzger (both '81) and Kathy Bustle ('82). We learn more about what it felt like to be a female mid at USNA during a Forrestal lecture in October 1979, the letter that Peggy's mother wrote to her that became a source of strength and pride, and the music of the late 70s/early 80s (Boston's More Than a Feeling, Blondie - Heart of Glass, Buffett, Boz Scaggs, and WHFS).

In our 2nd 50th Anniversary podcast, Kate and Jeannette get to hear stories from mother-daughter duo Sharon Hanley Disher '80 and Alison Disher Orr '10 - and they are only two of the five (!) Disher family members who are USNA grads. Yes, all five are Navy grads! If you haven't read Sharon's 1998 book, First Class: Women Join the Ranks at the Naval Academy, you should... but you should also listen to this podcast. Join us as we learn what it was like to be both a grad and the mother of a female grad... and a grad and the daughter of a female grad. We talk about the similarities and differences between the experience of being a woman in '80 and the experience of being a woman in '10, the treatment of cheerleaders in 1976 and 2006, and the existence of phones in Bancroft Hall. So much has changed, yet so much hasn't.  Thank you, Sharon and Alie!

SOMB is excited to launch our Season 4 -- where we focus our podcast on the upcoming 50th anniversary of women at the military service acadmies. To kick things off, Jeannette and Jenn sit down with the amazing Janice Buxbaum, USNA '80. From Janice and her stories, we learn about how hard women had to fight to be admitted, how to hold a mutiny, and what happened during a certain uniform race. (We also learn a lot more - particularly about leadership, resistance to discrimination, and resilience.) And we close with a story about the Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'"... please join us! (Thank you to the USNA Women's Glee Club for the opening and closing music.)

For our second episode of 2025, SOMB sought to hear from alumnae from across the Academies. For this episode, we posed two questions to our fellow sisters:  First, how are you being impacted by current events? And second, what does your experience teach you and what can it teach us? How have you handled challenging situations or hostile leaders in the past? We asked for volunteers to join the podcast recording and provided an email address for any who wanted to share asynchronously, so this podcast is the result of that conversation. Please note that we do not introduce anyone with last name or affiliation - we only used first names. But all who joined are female alumnae. We're also providing a list of books recommended by some of those who joined us. They are here for reference: It's My Country Too: Women's Military Stories from the American Revolution to Afghanistan by Jerri Bell (2017) No Coincidences: Reflections of the First Black Female Graduate of the United States Naval Academy by Janie Mines ('80)  Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by BG Ty Seidule, USA (Ret) (2021) Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (2020) Be Bold: How a Marine Corps Hero Broke Barriers for Women at War by Tom Sileo (2022) Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brene Brown (2018)

After a brief break as the team grappled with life, we're baaaaack... to grapple with the topic of meritocracy in the military. Meritocracy has been in the news recently, with shout-outs on the main DoD website and in the new SecDef's most recent book. When a recently-published short journal artice on meritocracy caught our eyes, we decided to read it and focus an episode on our thoughts on what a meritocracy is and whether the US military is one - on air. Full disclosure - we don't stay on topic, and if you're looking for a coherent overview of the article itself, you will be disappointed. =) (Article here in case anyone is interested: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661324003292.)

After an unintended break (life happens), we finally had the tremendous opportunity to meet and talk with Paula Neira, USNA '85, and one of the most remarkable leaders we've been fortunate to learn from on this podcast. Please join us and listen to Paula's story -- it's one of significant professional and personal growth, leadership, and advocacy. From a SWO... to a nurse and nurse educator... to an attorney and advocate... to a program director, Paula has served as a leader in all kinds of organizations and roles. But her life is grounded in a deep love for the Navy and USNA. And - bonus - the song "In a Big Country" by the band "Big Country" makes an appearance! Unfortunately, so does "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba. But let's pretend that won't get stuck in your head.

Please join Kate and Jeannette as we talk with and learn from LtGen Lori Reynolds, USMC (Ret), class of 1986. One of only two women from '86 to commission into the Marine Corps at graduation, LtGen Reynolds was one of the (very) few, proud...eventually retiring as a three-star. Join us as we learn from her about what it was like to join the Corps in 1986...to play basketball at USNA under Coach Dave Smalley...and to ascend the ranks in the Corps (and change an institution). It was an honor and a pleasure to talk with her - we hope that you enjoy it too!

Please join us as we talk (aka stammer and trip over our words as we try to hide our glee and awe) with Wendy Lawrence, USNA '81, CAPT (ret), pilot, astronaut, DGA winner, and all-round amazing woman and grad. Wendy generously gave us her time, energy, and significant wisdom, Jeannette's audio miraculously didn't malfunction, and Carrie got to learn about that bow ball that the crew team sent into space with Wendy. And so, so much more. Please join us ... and thank you, Wendy!

Please join SOMB as we speak with the brilliant Rear Admiral (Ret.) Peg Klein, USNA '81, and 2022 USNA Distinguished Graduate Award recipient. We discuss education, learning, pink hair, checking in on others, and being the Commandant of Midshipmen at USNA. We wish we'd had more time to talk... but we hope you enjoy the time that we did have! Thank you to Rear Admiral Klein for her energy and generosity! And Beat Army...

So for some weird tech reason, the great write-up that we had for our discussion with Postie recently disappeared! We won't be able to do it justice, but please join us anyway to meet and learn from the fantastic Linda "Postie" Postenrieder, USNA '82, and current President of the USNA Women's Shared Interest Group! Postie has the energy and vision of a million of us -- and her story... from SWO... to the tech world... to art... and now as a leader for USNA women... resonates. Please join us! And thank you, Postie, for your leadership!

After our long hiatus, we are BACK! On Season 3 Episode 2, we talk with Ms. Janie Mines '80 - you may have heard of her. She is not only the first African American woman to gradudate from USNA, but she's the author of No Coincidences - Reflections of the First Black Female Graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and she was selected as a USNA Distinguished Graduate in 2022. We were honored and thrilled to speak with and learn from Janie - and we are excited to share this episode with you all! And as you listen, please forgive us for the amateur start of the episode - we had some tech issues that our in-house tech support had to address as we tried to start recording. Between that and our excitement over talking with Janie, we were nervous AND late, so don't laugh as we stumble our way through the intro ... and stick with us, because Janie elevates the discussion from the first moment. This discussion was fun, humbling, and unforgettable.

Hello long-suffering Waypoints listeners! Inspired by our 25th reunion this past weekend, we are releasing - FINALLY (after 6 weeks of verrry sloooow editing by our wonderful Chief Editor) - Season 3! (We actually started Season 2 earlier and just misnumbered).  Season 3 starts with Episode 1, where Kate, Jenn, and Jeannette discuss the 21-month hiatus that Waypoints took. TL; DR: life smacked us all in the faces at the same time. Please join us as we reboot Waypoints for Season 3. Thank you!

Ten years ago last month, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was repealed. But what did that policy represent for servicemembers? What was it like to serve before the policy existed as well as during it - and how can we each become more empathic leaders who seek to make our own organizations more inclusive and supporting? This month, CDR (Ret) Zoe Dunning, class of 1985, joined us to generously share her experiences; her stories remind us all that there is still so much more to be done.

Y'all - it's been a while. Let's just say that the chaos of 2020/2021 caught up with us a bit. But we're baaaaack! And who better to kick things off than another great '98er - Coreyanne (Rickwalt) Armstrong, prior SWO, bagpiper extraordinaire, mother of 8, and the energy behind a story that we found incredibly inspiring and eye-opening. Join us for a listen (and thank you to Corey for her patience and courage!). And if you want to learn more - take a look at Corey's work with Oxford House Building Hope (https://buildinghope.net/lend-a-helping-hand). 

Roll with us on this one. Chris Haynie and CB Johnson, both '98, joined forces for a long talk about.,.well, we're not really sure because SOMB haven't listened to it yet. But we've been told it's interesting - and knowing both CB and Chris, we bet it is. Both men, classmates, friends, and Marine Corps infantry officers, talk about life... the Corps... and the transformation that can happen when you start questioning the life you've lived. Better than a BOGSATT, we promise! 

In this episode of Waypoints, the Sisterhood discusses our personal experience with eating disorders and the prevalence of ED in the uniformed services.  Is it our type-A perfectionism that draws us both to uniform and to disordered eating?  How can the military better address this serious issue? 

This week, Shannon and Jeannette bring Sandy Coward, CAPT (Ret) USN, onto the show. CAPT C, USNA '64, knows his way around a sea story... and he was head of the USNA admissions board in the early 90s, spearheading some of the changes that brought more women to Annapolis and recruiting women to join the amazing class of '98 and the also-amazing class of '98-1. Given the tribulations of 2020 so far, we asked him to talk about his life, career, and how to bring about institutional change. Please join us - and put your feet up. It's a long one!

As summer 2020 commenced in this never-ending year from hell, the Sisterhood of Mother B wanted to discuss racism together on Waypoints. Our group is white - and the burden is on all of us to use our voices, perspectives, and this platform for change. This podcast is awkward and it's humbling, but without forcing ourselves out of our comfort zones, real change won't happen. So join us as we get uncomfortable, learn, and work on getting it right - not being right. And please reach out with comments, ideas, corrections, additions, or reactions.

Please join Shannon and Jeannette as they talk with Trishette (Hall) Neville, USNA '97, about racism, gender, and leadership at USNA and in the military. About the hanging of Confederate flags in Bancroft Hall. About isolation. About how complex and deep racism is, and how the fight against it can be subordinated to other causes. About loneliness and resilience. And, a little bit, about how drill seems like it would be cool but really it isn't. Unless it's not at USNA. Then it's cool. (Or not.)

In episode 24, amidst the turmoil that is 2020, '98er and track star extraordinaire Regina Ware Dixon joins Jenn and Jeannette to talk about USNA, race, the Navy, roommates, and gender... and what, how, and where we can learn if we want to make changes to our world. Also, the Kearsarge was problematic in summer 1996. And we need to check our assumptions. Join us...

In episode 23, Kate and Jeannette interview Phoebe Kotlikoff and Will Harris, both members of USNA Class of 98+15, both submarine officers, and married to each other. Please join us as we talk about breaking submarines (don't ask Kate and Jeannette to explain that part), dual-mil challenges and rewards, allyship and advocacy, and the work we still have to do. And join Kate and Jeannette in celebrating fellow nerds - we must unite!

In this episode, Jenn and Jeannette get to talk with Midshipman 1/c Taylor Sparks, USNA '20, about leadership and resilience in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. The Sisterhood of Mother B salutes the Class of 2020 as they embark upon their careers in a new normal - and without the kind of sendoff that the rest of us had. And because we are amateurs, Jeannette accidentally hit a button that made her voice sound weird partway into the podcast...and can't figure out how to fix it. So - Enjoy! 

COVID-19 occupies our every thought these days. The Sisterhood is considering how to best use our platform during this crisis, and how to support, connect, and engage as we all pivot to this new reality. While we regroup and chart out our path, we wanted to share Part II from our dual-military episode. We recorded it just before the virus became a reality inside the U.S.. Hopefully giving Jeannette and Kate a microphone and letting them grind their axes distracts everyone for a bit. Take care and stay safe...

In episode 20, Kate and Jeannette read stories and comments from our listeners about what it's like to be dual-military... and because we can't keep our opinions to ourselves, we grind some axes as well. Come join us as we complain, vent, laugh, and in general agree that the pain is worth it...

In Episode 19, classmates Misty, Jenn, and Jeannette explore the wonders of Surf and Turf in King Hall, flying frigates, roommate Bingo, the Mystery of the French Fries, and - on a more serious note - discuss the heart-wrenching duties that redefine our lives as leaders. Please join us!

For this episode, Jenn and Jeannette - who were TBS and flight school roommates - interview another set of roommates, Christine Bath-Zachery and Lynne Smith Driscoll, both class of 1990. Chris was Jenn's sponsor mom, and graduates from the late 90s might remember Lynne, who played an integral role in the USNA admissions process for those classes. Chris and Lynne finish each other's sentences, discuss how they supported each other both at USNA and beyond, and tell stories that might remind listeners of their own days at USNA and roommates and friends near and far.

In Episode 17, we continue with our interviews with women of the 90s, starting with Samanthia Rousos-Gage, member of the class of 1991. Please join us as we explore with Samanthia what it was like to serve in a time of incredible change for the Navy, and learn about what it's like to start at USNA as a non-swimmer only to become a Master's swimmer later in life. Beat Army!

Come join us as three members of the Sisterhood, Jenn, Shannon, and Jeannette, share stories from listeners (and from each other) about the fun that can be Army/Navy week. Stories range from heartwarming to downright disgusting, and everything in between. And finally... BEAT ARMY!

In this Episode, Jenn and Jeannette interview Steve Le, one of the most interesting grads we know. His story is heroic, tragic, and inspiring. Steve was born in Saigon just prior to its fall. Through a series of incredible experiences, he made it to the US in the 80s - and into USNA. After serving in the Navy, Steve held a wide range of positions, but eventually began working on Le Mobile Feast. Pay close attention to how three Gen Xers handle the technical malfunction toward the end of the podcast, and go check out Steve's website to learn about his story and journey: https://lemobilefeast.com/.