Service Academy Sorority Podcast

This episode features Olivia Cream, a 2004 graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In this episode, you'll hear about Olivia's endless drive to succeed and the highs and lows of her journey towards becoming an engineer with the Coast Guard. From her experience as an immigrant family from Jamaica, to the many ups and downs she faced during her time at the Academy, Olivia makes it clear that if you want something badly enough, it's important to stick with it, find your support network, and work hard. As a heads up, this episode mentions sexual assault and also goes into details about some of Olivia's experiences with racism. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Ashley Keller, a 2010 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you'll hear about Ashley's desire and commitment to serve, as well as a few difficult decisions she had to make to stay true to herself, including giving up the opportunity to pursue a path towards the Olympics. You'll also learn why Ashley eventually decided to leave the military and how she evolved from being an Army engineer to a mother with a super successful YouTube channel. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Ginni Guiton, a 1985 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear about Ginni’s last minute decision to apply to the Academy, about how she always had a backup plan just in case it didn’t work out - yet ended up having a 20-year career in the military, some of the struggles she had as a woman attending an Academy, and how her constant desire to change and grow ultimately has her working in HR while also developing her own side hustle as a hypnotherapist. Ginni’s mindset about attending an Academy is one we haven’t heard on the show yet, and I think you’ll find it fascinating to hear. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Cheriene Griffith, a 2002 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear about Cheriene’s struggles making the transition from a small town in California to Academy life on the East Coast; what it was like to become the first female Anchor Woman at the Academy; why she decided to end her career as a Surface Warfare Officer after only 3 years of service; and how she ultimately found her way onto a new career path in the emerging cannabis industry. Cheriene’s story is the perfect example of the magic that can happen when you choose to be open minded and willing to pivot when life seems out of alignment. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Katie Holder, a 2016 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear about Katie’s experience growing up in a household with two parents that went to West Point; the unique ways in which the Academy pushed Katie to develop and accept her own identity; what it was like being gay at the Academy only one year after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed; and how she’s managed her Army career with her wife who’s also an Academy graduate with her own career in the Coast Guard. If you listened to past episodes, you may notice that Katie has the same last name as one of our past guests - Ann Holder; this is because Ann is actually Katie’s mom and a class of 1989 graduate from West Point. If you haven’t listened to that episode, I definitely encourage you to do so - you’ll quickly see that these two women are extremely humble and it’s fun to see how their experiences compare. I’ll be sure to link to that episode in the show notes. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Laura Springer, a 2004 graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear how Laura’s time at the Academy helped her hone in on her intuition and trust her feelings; how a key moment during 9/11 completely altered the trajectory of her career; why she’s not 100% sure Kings Point would be a good fit for her daughters; and how she’s built a successful career in the Coast Guard while also being married to a classmate and raising a family. I encourage you to listen to the interview in its entirety as the conversation gets super interesting towards the end of the interview when Laura reflects upon whether or not she’d make the same decision to attend an Academy if she could do it all over again. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Ann Holder, a 1989 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn how a comment that was made to Ann at a young age sent her on a mission to attend a federal service academy; what it was like to be a woman at West Point in the ‘80’s; how Ann navigated the many challenges she faced at the Academy, some of which made her question whether or not she wanted to continue on; and how ultimately - while she’s grateful to have graduated from West Point - her decision to leave the military allowed her to tap into her entrepreneurial spirit while also building a family. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Tracy Mehr-Muska, a 1996 graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear how the Academy really challenged Tracy’s identity in a variety of ways; how several complicated situations ultimately resulted in her having to pivot her career out of the Coast Guard far earlier than she had initially planned; and how she eventually was able to translate the lessons she learned into meaningful work as a pastor with a special focus on working with people nearing the end of life. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Kali Kingsley, a 2011 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear how a challenging first year at the Academy really pushed Kali to question her desire to stay in the military, and how her experiences with women - both in leadership roles and as classmates - sent her on a personal mission to create something better for the women she serves with. This is a powerful episode that demonstrates the importance of fostering bonds with our Service Academy sisters. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Jocelyn Fox, a 2010 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you'll hear how Jocelyn has always managed to balance her creative passion for writing with a desire to be hands on, whether it be with athletics, her pursuits at the Academy or in the military, or during her current career in Federal Law Enforcement. From being one of the founders of the field hockey team to writing 11 fantasy novels, this is a fun episode with a lot of twists and turns that really help to highlight how we all can develop different sides of our personality simultaneously. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Deanna Franzen, a  2010 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear why Deanna pivoted away from a lifelong dream of owning a dance studio to instead developing a desire to serve and join the military; how a small mistake her first year at the Academy altered the trajectory of her entire career; and how she’s used her clarity and determination to find her dream job as a lawyer back in her home state of Texas. Enjoy the show!

This episode features the host of this podcast, Victoria Adams, formally Victoria Gigante, a 2004 graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. In this episode, Victoria dives deep into why the majority of her time at the Academy and in the military was spent living in survival mode, and how she was eventually able to turn her struggles at the Academy into the strong foundation necessary to build a life in which she's now thriving. As a side note, when you hear Victoria's story you’ll understand why she has very few photos from her time both at the Academy and in the military. If you visit the show notes page, however, you’ll get to see the one fun photo someone sent to her many years after graduation. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Jennifer-Ruth “Romper” Green, a 2005 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn why Jennifer-Ruth considers herself a bit of a “late bloomer” in life; how she often felt like she struggled to find her way at the beginning of each new chapter on her journey; but how ultimately these twists and turns led her to find deeper meaning in both her training as a pilot and her experiences at the Academy. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Leslie (Stein) Riley, a 1997 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, Leslie dives deep into the many struggles she had, both at the Academy and in the Army. Usually these struggles surrounded her weight and the negative messages she received about her femininity and being a woman in the military. Ultimately, Leslie found strength in adversity and built a career out of helping people communicate more effectively. Despite all the hardships, Leslie also had some major highlights and views her time at the Academy as a foundational step on her journey towards who she is today. Enjoy the show! 

This episode features Kellie Hall, a 2014 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn how Kellie’s identity as a fun, bubbly, outgoing woman was challenged from day one at the Academy; how she eventually found ways to express this side of her personality in a male dominated industry while also being respected for her many strengths as an officer and leader; and how this journey ultimately led her to become the first runner up at Miss California while also maintaining her career in the Navy. If you’ve struggled with finding outlets to express the more feminine and creative sides of your personality, this is the episode for you. Enjoy the show! 

This episode features Jennifer Leong-Luik, a 2004 graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn how Jen’s desire to get out of Chicago combined with a drive for financial freedom and an interest in service led her to choose the Academy; and how her openness and willingness to listen to those around her guided her on a path that informed her decision to join the pistol team, pursue an Operations Research and Computer Analysis major, pursue a position in Alaska, and ultimately start her own defense contracting company. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Krysia Pohl, a 1997 graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear how Krysia was initially drawn to the Academy as a way to fulfill a lifelong dream of going to the Olympics for dinghy sailing; how she balanced her career and training post graduation; and why she eventually left the Coast Guard only to ultimately recommission years later with a new desire to serve. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Abigail Robson, a 2007 graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear how Abby grew up around ships and knew she wanted to join the merchant marine from a very young age; her struggles adjusting to the military lifestyle at Kings Point; how her priorities evolved and changed, both at the Academy and during her career; and how she ultimately decided to pivot away from sailing towards a new career as a pastry chef. This episode is a lot of fun, especially as Abby dives into the ways in which she’s been able to transfer her skills from sailing to baking. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Patty Stoll, a 1996 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear about Patty’s unwavering commitment to becoming a Marine, including how she spent a year at junior college and a year at the Naval Academy Prep School prior to being accepted into the Academy; and how she used her focus and determination to not only make it through the Academy, but to also build a vibrant career that ultimately has her working in aerospace engineering and building space suits for NASA. Patty’s story illuminates the power of having clarity of your goals and the discipline to overcome any hurdles that may pop up along the journey towards achieving them. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Michelle Thibeau, a 2014 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear Michelle talk about some tough lessons she had to learn about integrity and honor very early on during her time at the Academy, how she was able to overcome these hardships - not let them define her - and graduate on a high note, and how she relentlessly puts herself out on a limb to pursue her interests and goals - both in the Army and beyond. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Erika Chapman, a 2018 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn about Erika’s constant pursuit to look beyond herself and have a positive impact on the people around her. As a basketball recruit from Texas, she faced a variety of challenges that tested her throughout her 4 years at the Academy, including multiple injuries and a lengthy legal battle that required her to sit out for most of her first two seasons. But Erika views each of these hurdles as an important piece of her development and is now thriving in her career as a Logistics Readiness Officer, while also serving as a support for minorities at the Academy. You’re definitely going to enjoy the positive outlook she brings to the conversation. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Sammie Blea, a 2011 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about how Sammie navigated the shock of moving from a tight-knit family in a rural mountain town in Colorado all the way across the country to the distant East Coast city of Annapolis Maryland; how she managed hearing the devastating news while at the Academy that her mom had cancer; and how she’s been able to reframe her many ups and downs into a form of personal resiliency instead of viewing her time at the Academy as one of pure survival. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Kathryn Smith, a 1982 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear why Kate made the decision to be part of one of the first classes of women to attend the Academy, her goals upon entering the Academy and how they changed and evolved over her 4 years in attendance, and why she ultimately chose to leave the military and transition into a law career that eventually took her full circle back to serving Veterans as an advocate. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Dr. Kendra Lowe, a 2001 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about the highs and lows of Kendra’s time at the Academy and how her military career ultimately came full circle with her becoming a psychologist researching and helping military families. This episode illuminates the power of focusing on the positive aspects of your story and the importance of working through your struggles as opposed to letting them define you. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Ashley Grosch, a 2005 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Ashley’s journey as a soccer recruit from Texas to eventually owning a farm in Virginia. There’s a long and winding transformational journey involving time as a surface warfare officer, many adventures as a triathlete, the roller coaster ride of becoming a mom to 4 little boys, and eventually ending up as the owner of a ridiculous number of chickens. Ashley’s story highlights the importance of taking time and space to press the pause button and reevaluate your life; she’s reinvented herself multiple times and pushes herself to pivot when she knows things aren’t aligned. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Lis Reed, a 2010 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Lis’s lifelong journey towards a career in aviation, including the highs and lows of her time at the Academy, as well as the sudden and difficult transition she had to make out of the military post-graduation. This episode is a great example of perseverance and illuminates how even with the best laid plans, sometimes we have to pivot; Lis does this beautifully and you’ll learn how she picked up the pieces to create an amazing life and business. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Karen Fuller Tynan, a 1987 graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about what it was like to be a woman at Kings Point in the ‘80’s, how Karen landed a sailing job on tankers with Chevron, stayed there for 10 years post-graduation, and why she eventually felt it was time to move on to something new. Karen also speaks about her transition out of the world of sailing and how she ultimately ended up in California practicing employment law. As a side note, Karen didn’t mention this in the interview but it turns out that when she made the decision to leave Chevron, she was actually the highest ranking woman in the Chevron fleet at the time. So across the board, Karen’s been one of our Academy sisters paving the way. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Micaela Cuneo, a 2018 graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Micaela’s decision to attend an Academy as a unique path towards medical school. We explore the many ups and downs she experienced while at the Academy, including preparing for the MCAT while also maintaining her regular academic and military responsibilities, as well as her transition from Service Academy life in the mountains of Colorado to med school at sea level in Florida. Michaela’s story is a great example of how the Federal Service Academies can really set you up for any career path you choose - all you need is persistence and dedication to your goals. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Lisa Steptoe, a 1987 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. In this episode, you’ll hear all about how Lisa applied to West Point on a dare, the highs and lows of her time at the Academy including winning her weight class in powerlifting, and the relentless energy she’s put towards building a successful career in medical sales after she left the military. The openness and honesty that Lisa brings to the conversation about both her successes and her struggles provides great insight no matter where you are in your personal journey. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Angelina Fuschetto, a 2001 graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point NY. Angelina, or Angie, or… FU to those that went to school with her… shares all about her journey from the cornfields of Indiana to working with tankers in Alaska. If you don’t know much about Kings Point and the life of a merchant mariner, Angie’s story will definitely give you some great insight. And for transparency, I should mention that Angie was actually a first class midshipman (or senior) at Kings Point when I was a plebe (or freshman). In fact, she was my platoon commander - and while I don’t think this impacted the interview in any way - I just thought you should know. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Gaby Cavins, a 2014 graduate from The United States Naval Academy  (USNA). You’ll get to hear all about her experiences rising above a variety of challenges both at the Academy and beyond - everything from struggling academically to leaving a lasting legacy by co-founding the school’s dance team to balancing life as a mother and military officer to eventually transitioning out of the Navy and becoming a breastfeeding advocate for working parents. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Joanne McCaffrey, a 1980 graduate from The United States Coast Guard Academy  (USCGA). You’ll get to hear all about her experiences as a member of the first class of women admitted into the Academy, as well as the many adventures she’s been on throughout her 27 year career in the service, including her second career as a civil engineer and her third career as a mother of 3. While this episode is a bit longer than most, it’s definitely worth the time as you’ll find unique insights and wisdom in all that Joanne has to share. In addition, you’ll want to hang out until the end of the show because there's a brief follow up to a story Joanne shares about her time at the Academy. Enjoy the show!

This episode features Shauna Marshall, a 2005 graduate from The United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. You’ll get to hear all about her journey from a small town in Vermont to becoming one of a handful of women to enter the Navy EOD community to now living abroad as a Physical Therapist with her husband and 3 kids. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, I interview Elisa Rhynedance, a 2009 graduate from The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs. You’ll get to hear all about the ups and downs of her journey towards self-discovery as she redefines herself from being a college gymnast to a personnel officer to eventually uncovering her passion as a professional coach. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, I interview Karen Deschaine, a class of 1997 graduate from The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. You’ll get to hear all about her journey from living in the suburbs of Detroit to becoming a competitive skydiver at West Point to eventually ending up as a corporate lawyer and mother of two in Southern California. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to the Service Academy Sorority - a space where women that have graduated from the Service Academies can share their stories and build a sense of camaraderie and sisterhood. The goal of this podcast is to inspire you to own your path - share your experiences - and to form deeper connections with the rest of your service academy sisters.