Sing Second Alumni

Season six, episode 9. A busy weekend came and went. We discuss and break down a 34-31 win vs Air Force, reunions for 1990, 1995 and 2015, President's Circle Weekend, a visit from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Annapolis Boat Show. We're getting ready for this weekend's Navy 250th celebration in Philly. We chat with George Leone, who is the Chairman of the 250th Commemoration. He breaks down the ships, the events and everything else cool about being in Philly this weekend. And as we emerge from President's Circle weekend, we chat with PC Donor and supporter of the USNA Parachuting program, Kirk Michael '72. Kirk talks about why he gives back and More in a great conversation. And 7 Oct is a special anniversary as we celebrate 50 years of women at the service academies. We shout it out at the end. That and more on a world’s best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!

Hate reading magazines? Try listening to them. Shipmate Magazine Editor Jimmy DeButts, Digital Media Director Emily Lucht and John Schofield walk you through the September/October issue of the magazine. From DGAs to Legacy of Valor and 5 good minutes with filmmaker Brian O'Hare, we give you the content of the mag with a little taste of the behind the scenes elements of why the stories were chosen and the parts of the story that didn't make it in the magazine. Enjoy listening to the best alumni magazine in the world. Beat Army!

This is a joint Anchors Aweigh-Sing Second Podcast tapped live from Dry 85 to help get our listeners in the mode to Beat Air Force.

Season six, episode 8. It’s Air Force Week. Enough said. But there IS more. It’s President’s Circle Weekend for the Alumni Association & Foundation. We celebrate our PC donors with activities, receptions and tailgates Thurs-Sat. We also bring in three reunion classes - 1990, 1995 and 2015. And it’s Boat Show weekend in Annapolis. Looks like we picked the wrong time to quit sniffing glue (Airplane reference). On the subject of President’s Circle, we interview USNA Parent and PC Donor Parv Shalov. She talks about her why for giving and how her donations are Making USNA better today AND tomorrow. Don’t miss our awesome chat. We also chat Ryder cup, what a government shutdown would mean for the Academy and the end of the O’s season. That and more on a world’s best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army! And BEAT AIR FORCE!

Season six, episode 7. A big one this week. Football is back against Rice this weekend. We celebrate our Corporate and Finance Relations partners during the game, including the Olmsted Foundation. MG Bruce Scott, USA (ret) - Army Class of ‘72 - joins us as we drop names of former Navy and Army Olmsted Scholar winners. But we also talk about the impact Olmsted has to USNA in the form of philanthropy. We also talk to two members of the Naval Academy football team - Midn 3/C Mack Taylor and Midn 2/C Marcus Bleazard. Both Mids just recently returned to the Academy after two years off…on Mormon missions. Mack and Marcus break down their faith, experiences and how hard it was to come back to Annapolis after two years as a Missionary. And what does a missionary do, anyway? Tune in to find out. Finally, we break down the Thriving as Leaders awardees just announced by AA&F today!!That and more on a world’s best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!

Season six, episode 6. We run back the best Alumni Association & Foundation pod with a discussion about last week’s lock down on the yard, discussion about a big football win for the Mids at Tulsa and some cool roadtrips this past weekend to Oklahoma and eastern North Carolina. Our featured interview is with RADM (ret) Mike Shatynski ‘79. He’s running the Surface Navy Museum. The National Museum of the Surface Navy is more than an exhibit — it’s an immersive movement to preserve stories, foster understanding, and build bridges between generations. It reminds us that behind every ship are the people whose dedication, sacrifice, and humanity safeguarded our freedoms. By connecting visitors to these stories, RADM Shatynski and the museum ensure that the purpose, connection, and resilience of service continue to inspire America’s future. A great black shoe conversation with a man giving back. That and more on a world’s best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!

Season six, episode 5. A big weekend ended without too much incident...unless 2 hour rain delays during a football game bother you. Football prevailed despite the lightning, the Class of 2000 showed out for an epic reunion weekend, and we honored four amazing Distinguished Graduates. Our featured interview is with our partner in podcasting, Grant Vermeer. Grant's Academy Insider pod is now in the "Fleet of Sing Second Podcasts." He joins us to talk about the critically important context and perspective he - and we - can bring to parents and all audience members about the experience at USNA today. We will work together through these audio medium to better inform you all about life in and around the Annapolis Battlespace. And we're damn happy to do it. We also chat about Tom Hanks. Who disses Tom Hanks? Give the best Alumni Association & Foundation flagship pod a listen. Beat Army. Sing Second!

UAB pre-game social and Navy Women's Soccer Fanfest. We ran it back. Another live pod from Saturday's Women's Soccer Fanfest and pre-game social at Fluegel Alumni Center. Bill Wagner joined Chris and John to interview Coach Carin Gabarra, Midn 1/C Mimi Abusham and NWS alums from the class of 2000 Michelle Melendez, Grace Kelly and Shannon Filbin. Also joining the ladies of 2000 was long-time friend of the Pod Erin Bailey '00 to discuss the class' return to Annapolis for their 25-year reunion. We break down the NWS season so far, what to expect the rest of the way and hear the advice from the Class of 2000 alums about how athletics and being part of a team at USNA shaped their future. THe rain held off and a great day was shared by all. Thanks for listening. Beat Army.

Get prepped and ready for our Live Pod from Fluegel for the UAB game by re-living the greatness of our first "ESPN Gameday" Live Pod for VMI. Bill Wagner of The Capital joined Eric Kettani '09, Paul Saunders '01 and Navy Football Brotherhood legend Frank Schenk '91 for a pre-game party complete with orange crushes at 9am, eerily accurate core predictions and great conversations about the upcoming football season and what is special about the U.S. Naval Academy. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!

Season six, episode 4. It’s UAB week. It’s DGA week. And epic Class of 2000 Reunion Week. We’re hosting another live pod at the FAC as part of a UAB pre-game social. And NO ONE knows what to get Jimmy and Millie for a wedding present. We got a lot going on! (sick Bull Durham reference). Chris and John drop the Alumni Association’s flagship pod this week with a convo about beating VMI, hob-knobbing with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the first reunion weekend with a new Supe and AD. Our featured interview is with Gabrille Riffle-Gonzalez ‘17, a Marine…an entrepreneur…a cigar-lover. She founded Antipoliticas - a Cigar company with a big future. Her company was featured at the last USNA Entrepreneur Summit at the FAC. The company is her tribute to her roots, a bold celebration of heritage and a credit to the hard work USNA alums put into the journeys in and out of uniform. That and more on a world’s best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!