Permission To Speak Freely

OSCS William Morris stops by the podcast for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, and the responsibility that comes with leading Sailors. The discussion covers life in Japan, making Chief while deployed, building future leaders, the value of meaningful checkout conversations, and why leadership is about more than rank or position. The conversation also explores retention, communication across the fleet, leading through constant change, and what today's Navy can do to better support both leaders and Sailors. Later, the focus shifts to what still gives leaders hope, what the Navy continues to get right, the opportunities military service provides, work-life balance, gratitude, and the importance of genuinely caring about people. These and more topics are covered in this episode.

 

 

 

Do you have “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptstpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

Stay connected with us: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

PTSF Theme music: Produced by Lim0

This wasn't supposed to become an episode.

A guest canceled at the last minute, but the guys were already rolling.

Figured they'd talk for a few minutes before packing everything up.

Somehow that turned into conversations about Chief Initiation, being "just an E7," Christopher Nolan, LeBron, podcast chemistry, PFB, and a whole lot more.

It wasn't planned.

It wasn't polished.

It just felt too good to delete.

The crew is joined by returning guest 2K Kenny, who is back nearly two years after his first appearance on Episode 136. With Damon away, Damo, Aaron, and Kenny begin by discussing the cost of CMC initiation events, “integrity counting” during the PRT, and the technical difference between a Sailor’s rate, rating, and paygrade. The conversation also covers the importance of acknowledging people, lessons from suicide-intervention training, and why something as simple as saying hello can carry more weight than we realize. The crew then catches up on everything Kenny has accomplished since his first appearance. He discusses making second class, earning his ESWS qualification, enduring repeated deployment extensions, and turning the realities of sea duty into music that connects with Sailors. Kenny explains how he learned to embrace being called corny, respond to criticism with confidence, and lean further into the creativity that made him stand out. The conversation moves through vintage Navy uniforms, content days, guerrilla marketing, getting recognized around base—and while driving Uber—and the growing community of Sailors creating their own lanes through social media. Kenny also opens up about his family, his evolving relationships with his parents, and the responsibility that came with growing up as the oldest of ten children. He reflects on the leader he wants to become, the sponsor who made his arrival in Hawaii memorable, and the importance of correcting Sailors while still advocating for them. From opening for Trey Songz and growing his streaming audience to removing music that no longer represented him, strengthening his faith, studying harmonies, and pursuing an opportunity to perform at Fleet Week, Kenny shares how his goals have matured without losing the passion that started everything. Along the way, the crew debates the Navy’s most respected rates, revisits Love & Basketball, explores the stories behind Kenny’s music, and offers a few ideas for where his sound could go next.

 

 

 

Do you have “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptstpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

Stay connected with us: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

Links to follow 2K Kenny:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ofPPFgZgYPtLajjoLtOx6?si=f26HTx2KSFGfxoZG-Ibw4A

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/2k-kenny/1518348938

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLqp0kj5XZBAMfb24k_KJbg/community

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@2kkenny1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2kkenny/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2kkenny/

 

 

 

PTSF Theme music: Produced by Lim0

One of the biggest Navy policy changes of the year is here, and we're breaking it all down. This week, we discuss NAVADMIN 140/26 and NAVADMIN 162/26, covering the Navy's updated guidance on religious accommodations, grooming standards, and facial hair policy. Joining us is retired Navy Captain Dr. John Cordle, who explains what Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is, how it's commonly treated, who it affects, and what these changes could mean for Sailors and the Fleet. We also discuss barracks and BAH challenges for first-term Sailors, Congress looking into the hard fouls on Caitlin Clark, Reserve Chief selection results, truth in reporting, a Navy Senior Chief charged with child pornography, and honor the life of CMDR Gabriel Edwards. Plus, we respond to listener comments, discuss what went wrong with Damo's Instagram story, talk about joining the military later in life, Aaron's first official PTSF DRB, Damon's apartment search for his son, Damo's retirement trip to Norfolk, this week's Do Better segment, and our Picks of the Week.

 

 

 

Referenced Resources:

• NAVADMIN 140/26 – Updated Guidance on Grooming Standards and Religious Liberty

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2026/NAV26140.pdf

• NAVADMIN 162/26 – Facial Hair Groom Standards Update

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2026/NAV26162.pdf

 

 

 

Do you have “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptstpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

Stay connected with us: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

Picks of the Week:

Intrusive Leadership (Marcus A. Canady) - https://www.cgaalumni.org/s/1043/21/interior.aspx?sid=1043&gid=1&pgid=6893

Turn the Ship Around - (L. David Marquet) - https://davidmarquet.com/books/turn-the-ship-around-book/

The Captain Class (Sam Walker) - https://www.bysamwalker.com/the-captain-class

 

 

 

 

PTSF Theme music: Produced by Lim0

**Listener Discretion** This episode contains discussions about suicide, mental health, prostitution, pornography, trauma, and religious faith that may be difficult for some listeners.

 

This week, the guys sit down with Army veteran and author Devin Fish, whose memoir, Answering the Hard Questions, takes readers through a life marked by poverty, constant change, broken relationships, self-hatred, and ultimately, redemption. Devin opens up about growing up in Rockford, Illinois, moving from school to school, joining the Army to escape his circumstances, and the experiences that forced him to confront some of the darkest moments of his life. The conversation explores mental health, loneliness, romance scams, pornography, prostitution, faith, identity, and what it really takes to rebuild yourself after believing you're beyond saving. The guys also dive into the creative process behind writing a deeply personal memoir, the discipline required to tell your story honestly, and why helping just one person can make sharing your story worth it. Whether you've ever struggled with purpose, questioned your faith, battled your own inner voice, or simply wondered how someone finds hope after years of self-destruction, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

 

 

 

Do you have “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptstpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

Stay connected with us: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

 

 

 

Stay connected with Devin Fish:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devin.fish.79

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@9d7fish

 

 

 

Picks of the Week:

Answering the Hard Questions (Devin Fish) - https://www.youtube.com/@9d7fish

A Man at Arms (Steven Pressfield) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393540979?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

 

 

 

PTSF Theme music: Produced by Lim0