Episodes

  • Sing Second Podcast [Feb 3 '26] featuring Entrepreneur, Coach and new author Karla Murphy ‘12

    Sing Second Podcast [Feb 3 '26] featuring Entrepreneur, Coach and new author Karla Murphy ‘12
    Feb 3 2026
    Welcome to February and the thick of the dark ages. Chris and John preview one of the Naval Academy’s signature events, Thursday’s Ship Selection Night from Alumni Hall. We also talk about the recent snow storm here in Annapolis that made those dark ages a little darker. And we preview a big weekend for Rifle, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field and Gymnastics as they compete for the Star against Army. And this week’s alumni feature is with Karla Murphy ‘12. Karla reps the Eastern North Carolina Chapter, and after a discussion with John at their Founder’s Day Dinner in the fall…a conversation started. Karla is a former Marine, and now an entrepreneur, an executive coach and the author of a new book: Be One of Zero: Why the Obsessed Always Win, A Leadership Operating System to Upgrade the Founder & the Business. Karla talks about leadership and introduces a leadership operating system for founders and executives who want to scale without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sanity. A great conversation about making that transition out of uniform and making a difference on your own path. Learn more about Karla and her company at https://foundersforge.pro/ and check out her book here. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
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    41 mins
  • Sing Second Shipmate - Episode 4 - Jan/Feb Issue

    Sing Second Shipmate - Episode 4 - Jan/Feb Issue
    Feb 1 2026
    The first hard copy of the Magazine for 2026! Just in time to get you through the dark ages. Emily Lucht, John Schofield and Jimmy DeButts bring you the best Alumni magazine in the business in audio form. The Jan/Feb issue hits mailboxes next week, but here is your sneak peak and your behind-the-scenes access to how the stories are written, the context behind the content and a little more explanation of how said content arrives in your mailbox every two months. In this issue we discuss an amazing gift from the Volgenau '55 family, Service Selection for the class of 2026 and even Tom Selleck! Our 50 years of women series continues with stories about the "admission rush" and other great vignettes. We have a great conversation with Michael Kelly and we hear from a CH-53E pilot. That and more as we bring you a preview of a great issue of Shipmate!
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    46 mins
  • Sing Second Podcast featuring Jim Petersen and Candidate interviews with Caleb Cronic ‘11 and Scott Herbener '87.

    Sing Second Podcast featuring Jim Petersen and Candidate interviews with Caleb Cronic ‘11 and Scott Herbener '87.
    Jan 28 2026
    The last full week of January was marked by some great stuff. Chris joined John in Annapolis for the Army-Navy Basketball doubleheader at Alumni Hall. Chris and John break down a great day from Pod Sponsor Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also chat more about our South Carolina roadshows (they just wrapped up) and other great updates from AA&F. Our feature interview this week is with Jim Petersen '76. Jim has stories!! And he's a published author. Jim's books connect directly to themes important to today’s midshipmen and alumni: decision-making under uncertainty, leading with integrity, navigating misinformation, personal growth, and building teams that thrive under pressure. These insights draw from his Naval Academy experience, his career as a Navy Captain (Ret.), and his current work as CEO of Diversified Professional Coaching. And we finish off our interview series with our candidates in the Eastern and Central regions. Caleb Cronic ‘11 and Scott Herbener '87 introduce themselves to the alumni and talk about why they are running to Be trustees. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Sing Second Podcast [Jan 26, 26] from the grand opening of the 50 Years of Women exhibit at Historic Annapolis.

    Sing Second Podcast [Jan 26, 26] from the grand opening of the 50 Years of Women exhibit at Historic Annapolis.
    Jan 26 2026
    A special Sing Second Podcast for your Annapolis snowday. Before the skies opened and the temps dropped, the Alumni Association & Foundation joined the USNA Women Shared Interest Group in celebrating a new display at Historic Annapolis in downtown celebrating the journey of USNA Women in words and photographs. Dozens of alumni joined AA&F President & CEO Jeff Webb ‘95 in hearing from USNA Women SIG leadership and Historic Annapolis museum curators about the important bond between the Naval Academy and the city of Annapolis over 50 years since women arrived for I-Day. Sing Second’s John Schofield interviewed Linda Postenrieder ‘82, Allison Webster Giddings ‘84 and Historic Annapolis’ Elizabeth Cox about the exhibit and the ceremony.
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    45 mins
  • [Jan 20, '26] Rob Johnston ‘08 ; Candidate interviews w/ Jen Tyll ‘01 & Jeff Griffen ‘04.

    [Jan 20, '26] Rob Johnston ‘08 ; Candidate interviews w/ Jen Tyll ‘01 & Jeff Griffen ‘04.
    Jan 20 2026
    Week 3 of 2026, and we are hitting our stride. Chris and John talk a little about their Live Sheehy Lexus pod with Bill Wagner, the coaches from NAAA and Longtime USNA and AA&F supporter Paul LaRochelle. We also chat about the official end to the College Football season (Congrats, Indiana) and how Navy will remain relevant in this landscape as a football program and as an institution. Our alumni interview is a special conversation about entrepreneurship. Rob Johnston ‘08 has a simple LinkedIn profile title - “Technology Entrepreneur.” But he’s so much more than that. We discuss his origins at USNA, his time in the Marine Corps and how he made it big in the Cyber space. And we continue our interview series with our candidates in the Eastern and Central regions. Jen Tyll ‘01 is running in the Eastern region. Jeff Griffen ‘04 is running in the Central. Get to know them on the pod. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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    47 mins
  • Sing Second Podcast featuring Vet Boats’ Terry Moran ‘87 and a convo with New Director of Alumni Support Services, Tony Spinler ‘91. Sing Second Podcast [Jan 14, '26] with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews. 2026.

    Sing Second Podcast featuring Vet Boats’ Terry Moran ‘87 and a convo with New Director of Alumni Support Services, Tony Spinler ‘91. Sing Second Podcast [Jan 14, '26] with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews. 2026.
    Jan 14 2026
    Sing Second Podcast featuring Vet Boats’ Terry Moran ‘87 and a convo with New Director of Alumni Support Services, Tony Spinler ‘91. Sing Second Podcast with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews. 2026. Week 2. Let’s go. The pod team gets together in person at the Fluegel Alumni Center to bring you the latest updates from USNA, AA&F and more. Connect, Communicate, Support and Anchor? That’s what we do. Tony Spinler ‘91 is big in the SUPPORT game. The new Director of Alumni Support Services joins the boys in studio to talk about his job and what he has in store to help our alums in uniform, out of uniform and in between. And we chat with Terry Moran ‘87 of Vet Boats. Terry takes us on his journey from Annapolis to the Fleet…and now giving back to Veterans through the therapeutic experience of being on the water. And we continue to feature short interviews with alums running for Trustee positions with the Alumni Association in the East and Central regions. We chat with Clay Davis ‘94, running in the Central Region. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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    57 mins
  • Sing Second Podcast [jan 08, '26] with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews.

    Sing Second Podcast [jan 08, '26] with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews.
    Jan 8 2026
    We're back!! We hope you had the happiest of holiday seasons. But the holidays are over. Navy won another bowl game. Ho hum. January is here. The Pod team has re-formed and is ready to embrace the dark ages. Ease back into the second half of the pod season by enjoying a great conversation about entrepreneurship with Rob Ackerman '07. Rob is crushing it in the tech private sector and is now running Data Tribe. Data Tribe is a unique startup foundry that takes startup teams focused on Cyber Security and Data Science technologies out of Government Agencies, Defense, Technology Centers and Research Labs to co-build fast growing commercial technology companies solving complex business and Global enterprise problems. It's a great convo! And we preview some other pod specialties coming this year. And our January podcasts will feature short interviews with alums running for Trustee positions with the Alumni Association in the East and Central regions. We chat with Devin Winklosky '93 (East) and Darryl Smith '88 (Central). Voting opens for the elections 17 Feb. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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    58 mins
  • Sing Second Podcast [Dec 17, '25] mid-season finale with Natalie Brianas and the team from Synchrony

    Sing Second Podcast [Dec 17, '25] mid-season finale with Natalie Brianas and the team from Synchrony
    Dec 18 2025
    Happy Holidays, teammates. The holidays are always brighter with a win vs Army in our pocket. The boys chat about the big game, the awesome alumni presence and what we're looking forward to for the Cincy Bowl Game. Hint - It's a live pod and watch party at Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also talk about a major $15 million gift from Ernst '55 and Sara Volgenau, and chat with Natalie Brianas from the Foundation about that gift and the importance of alumni philanthropy. She also riffs on some unique family connections she has. And we chat with the amazing team at Synchrony...a company that has some great opportunities for alums, advice for transitioning out of the service and more. And we have a quick convo with an alum at Synchrony, Gabriel Ives 04 from the class of 2004. This is the last pod until January 6th, so happy holidays and safe travels! That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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    1 hr and 3 mins