Permission To Speak Freely

Retired NCCS Nikki Lozano joins the guys for one of the most personal and powerful conversations the podcast has ever had. Nikki reflects on her early days as a Personnelman (PN), the differences between the early 2000s Navy and today’s Navy, and what it was like to be one of the first women assigned to an all-male ship. Before the Navy, she opens up about growing up in Utah in a trailer park, navigating an abusive household, the complicated lessons she learned from her father, and the mindset that ultimately pushed her toward military service. The conversation moves through battle stations, Norfolk memories, life aboard USS Cole, leadership after the attack, and Nikki’s firsthand account of the October 12, 2000, terrorist attack. She also speaks candidly about PTSD, sexual abuse, physical abuse, trauma at follow-on commands, and the way those experiences permanently changed how she viewed drills, leadership, and survival. As the episode continues, Nikki discusses motherhood, the conversation with her daughter that ultimately led to her retirement decision, life after the Navy, becoming a realtor in the Hampton Roads area, and the healing journey that inspired her memoir, Grit and Grind: A Veteran’s Journey to Healing. The crew also talks veteran storytelling, whether more veterans should lead recruiting efforts, the importance of transparency from leadership, and how stories can help people feel seen, understood, and less alone. These and many more topics are discussed in this episode.

 

About Our Guest:

Retired Navy Senior Chief Nikki Lozano served over 21 years in the United States Navy, beginning her career as a Personnelman (PN) before later converting to Navy Counselor (NCC). She was also a crew member aboard USS Cole (DDG 67) during the terrorist attack on October 12, 2000. Her memoir, Grit and Grind: A Veteran’s Journey to Healing, explores many of those experiences in greater depth and was written to help encourage broader conversations surrounding resilience, recovery, and personal growth. Today, Nikki continues serving her community as a realtor in the Hampton Roads area while advocating for honest conversations surrounding healing and life after service.

 

Purchase Nikki’s Book:

Grit and Grind: A Veteran’s Journey to Healing
https://square.link/u/jNgLZLPw

 

 

Upcoming Events:

Grit and Grind Meet & Greet with Nikki Lozano
📍 201 W Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503
📅 May 15, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

For more information:

Foundry757.com

[email protected]

 

 

 

Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at [email protected]

 

 

 

Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

Command Master Chief Aquinor “Kedia” Hollingsworth is back! This time, she and MC1 Tyra Watson lead an episode with Command Master Chiefs Jacelyne “Jay” Augustin and Stephanie “Cocoa” Canteen, guiding a conversation centered on leadership, personal growth, and the realities that come with carrying responsibility at the highest enlisted level. The episode opens with a discussion on leadership identity and the expectations that come with the role, including the pressure to consistently show up, maintain standards, and lead in environments where perception, respect, and credibility are constantly being evaluated. From there, the conversation moves into the balance between authority and approachability, breaking down how leaders decide when to hold the line versus when to give grace through real-world examples of accountability, mentorship, and decision-making. Kedia and Tyra steer the discussion into the experiences that shape leadership, including upbringing, independence, trust, and the process of unlearning habits that no longer serve them. The group shares how confidence is built through competence, how mentorship plays a role in growth, and how leaders develop others while continuing to evolve themselves.

The conversation then shifts into personal experiences, including navigating divorce, motherhood, and the challenge of balancing family responsibilities with leadership demands. The group speaks on leading while dealing with personal struggles, the importance of asking for support, and the resources they relied on during difficult periods. As the episode continues, Kedia and Tyra guide a deeper look into leadership philosophy and impact, focusing on developing Chiefs, aligning with command priorities, and taking ownership of mission success while still prioritizing people. The discussion also covers how leaders want to be remembered, emphasizing fairness, care, competence, and leaving organizations better than they found them. The episode closes with a shared message on authenticity, encouraging leaders to show up as themselves, stay grounded in who they are beyond the uniform, and continue growing through both success and failure.  These and more topics are discussed in this episode.

 

 

Guest CMC Bios:

 

CMDCM Aquinor “Kedia” Hollingsworth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aquinor-hollingsworth-a4a48162/?isSelfProfile=false

CMDCM Jacelyne “Jay” Augustin - https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/Photo-Gallery/igphoto/2003137648/

CMDCM Stephanie “Cocoa” Canteen - https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Shipyards/Norfolk/Leadership/Command-Master-Chief/

 

 

 

Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at [email protected]

 

 

 

Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

Damo, Damon, and Aaron are joined by Commander Desmond Walker and Commander Frank “Siri” Bonner for a conversation that moves from everyday Navy life into deeper discussions on leadership, pressure, and personal growth. The episode opens with a light debate before the group gets into real-world leadership challenges, including communication breakdowns around a last-minute barracks town hall and the expectations that come with coordinating across commands. That conversation leads into a broader discussion on standards and perception, sparked by a viral photo that had the Navy talking. From there, Commander Walker reflects on his recent deployment, sharing insight on crew endurance, shared sacrifice, and how leadership decisions early on can shape performance later. The group builds on that by discussing what makes a Sailor stand out, shifting into a deeper conversation on resiliency, ownership, and growth over time. The conversation continues with a debate on Enlisted Leadership Development (ELD), questioning whether Sailors lack access to resources or simply aren’t using what’s available. Different perspectives emerge on leadership responsibility, authority, and when to step in versus when to let people figure things out. As the episode progresses, the tone becomes more personal. The group reflects on pressure, influence, and the idea of the “alternative Sailor,” highlighting how small moments and mentorship can change someone’s path. Commander Bonner’s “Gangster of the Week” adds a powerful moment centered on resilience and growth. The episode closes with a conversation on ethics, leadership boundaries, and how leaders show up outside the uniform. Commander Walker speaks candidly about balancing career demands with family and the importance of acknowledging both success and failure along the way. These topics and more are covered in this episode.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

 

Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at [email protected]

 

 

Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

Cover photograph taken by William Cotton of 901 Photography -

https://www.instagram.com/william_cotton_photography?igsh=MTN6aXluNHM2aHZ6bw==

 

PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

Capt. Charles R. Harmon, Branch Head of Enlisted Plans and Policy (OPNAV N132), joins the Permission to Speak Freely Podcast for a conversation on SEM, billet-based advancement, and what Sailors are experiencing across the fleet.

 

The discussion moves through how the system is designed to work, where confusion is coming from, and how decisions are being made at the command and detailer level. Questions from the fleet drive the conversation, touching on ETPs, marketplace dynamics, command involvement, and the gap between policy and understanding.

 

When Capt. Harmon leaves, Career Counselor Chief Joey Sawyer, also known as “Fat Chief,” continues the conversation with a look at the newly released Decision Guide Memorandum 007 and what it could mean for technical standards, command involvement, and how Sailors approach their careers. They also get into email signature etiquette. Do you really need all your collateral duties in your signature? The conversation continues with Joey sharing his approach to discipline, time management, and using small pockets of time to stay consistent, along with how he communicates complex information in a way Sailors can actually use. Respective “Do Betters” are shared.  These topics and more are covered in this episode.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

 

Resources for this Episode:

Billet-Based Advancement (MyNavyHr) - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Enlisted/Billet-Based-Advancement/

Senior Enlisted Marketplace (MyNavyHr) - https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Enlisted/Senior-Enlisted-Marketplace/

BBA Handbook 3.0 - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Career/Detailing/Enlisted/DetailingMarketplace/BBA%20Handbook%203-0.pdf?ver=dH_5cVh2sPIXHomd8SAiwA%3D%3D

Advancement Manual - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/Instructions/BUPERS/BUPERSINST%201430.16.pdf

 

 

MyNavyHR:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mynavyhr/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MyNAVYHR/

 

Joey Sawyer, aka “Fat Chief”:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fat_chief_usn/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/Fat-Chief-61573142126612/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ7k2A6OPj001XWkQND99KA

 

 

 

Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at [email protected]

 

 

 

Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

Retired Navy Captain and author of Letters to Myself, John Cordle joins the show to talk through leadership, experience, and the perspective behind his book.

 

Damo sits down one-on-one with Cordle, a former Commanding Officer and long-time surface warfare officer, to get into the lessons that come from time in the Navy, the realities of decision-making, and how those experiences shaped what he chose to put on paper. The conversation moves through leadership at different levels, how mindset shifts over time, and the challenge of turning real-world experience into something others can learn from. They also get into what the book is built around, the themes it focuses on, and who it’s written for—giving listeners a clearer picture of what they can expect when they pick it up.

 

Buy a copy of the book now: https://stonetowerpress.com/shop-2/authors/john-cordle/letters-to-myself/

 

To attend the book singing in Annapolis at Old Fox Books - https://www.facebook.com/events/1328250259143019/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED

 

Connect with Dr. Cordle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordlejp/