Continuing April 2021 with the SurviveHER Series, we have another compelling show for you today.

There is always room at our table for fighters for justice, although not a woman veteran, Amy Franck's work supports our sisters, especially those who no longer have a voice to speak up for themselves.  I am so honored to be friends with Amy Franck and helping her in her mission to eradicate the abuse of power in our military and seek justice for Military Sexual Trauma victims.

Today's conversation is an honest, reflective, and raw conversation abt problems in the ranks that allow the pervasive culture of assault, battery, and rape to fester in the military.

Listen to hear about the incredible work she is doing for MST victims and if you are a victim of MST, sister, we believe you and we are here for you too!  Reach out to us!

www.neveraloneadvocacy.org

www.freedomsisters.com

Join us on April 14th at 7pm EST at www.facebook.com/freedomssitersmedia for the Never Alone Virtual Live Stream Event.

FOr April 2021, I wanted to introduce a special series to help those who suffer from MST, this is our SurviveHER Series and we kick it off with Ashley Gorbulja-Maldonado who is a warrior, scholar, leader, advocate, and entrepreneur…surviveHER.

Her life Motto—I Can. I Will. Watch Me.

We are so excited to share her story with you all today as we kick off the SurviveHER Series for SAAM.  #webelieveyou

Join us on April 14th at 7pm EST at www.facebook.com/freedomssitersmedia for the Never Alone Virtual Live Stream Event.

A dynamo sister is on the pod today! Rounding out our series with incredible leadership wisdom and a highly motivational chat!

For full disclosure, there are a few F-bombs in this episode, what can I say she has the mouth of a sailor!!!

But I want my guest to be authentically represented and I loved her vernacular, so we are all adults over here and can handle it - but wanted to also inform in case you may be offended.  

I implore you to listen if you are a leader, or you want to serve or you are getting ready to transition like Tasha.  After 20 years, she is retiring from the US NAvy and ready to set sail into her next journey!

So much goodness in this episode - you don't wanna miss it!

Today's guest is an Air Force Veteran, who served during the Panama conflict and the first Gulf War era.

She has used her time and life wisely to position herself to leave a lasting impact to whoever she coaches or leads.  

Working with Adriana means working with a unique professional who trained by the best in the industry. Adriana is an  author and her books have been translated into several languages. Aside from her many contributions in the Forbes expert panelist community, she has been helping people develop unique skill sets, setting them apart from the status quo. 

Adriana is the go-to trainer and executive coach for you and your company. As a contributing Forbes Coaches Council member and writer, she helps everyday people publish for the first time, helping them save time, understand the technical aspects of publishing and get them traction.

Adriana writes about technology, philosophy, examines biographies through her literary critiques and is a prolific poet with several poetry books.

Continuing the Women Warriors Living Legacy 2021, we get the pleasure of chatting with a Vietnam Veteran, Donna Lowery who spent 19-months in Vietnam during the war.  Donna raised all the way up the enlisted ranks to achieve the prestigious title of Sergeant Major.  

You all are in for a real treat with a conversation of a woman who loves this country and has incredible memory to help the listener understand the work women did in Vietnam.  She shares so much how serving in the Army through incredible change has made a lasting impact on her life and how she has been a champion for women veterans to obtain benefits and support after the uniform.

She wrote a book about Women Vietnam Veterans!

More about the book - Women Vietnam Veterans: Our Untold Stories, by Donna Lowery, a Vietnam veteran, chronicles the participation of American military women during the Vietnam War. This little-known group of an estimated 1,200 women from the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy left its mark in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973. They served in a myriad of duties from intelligence analysts, flight controllers, clerk-typists, translators, physical therapists, dieticians and communications specialists among many others.

Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Women-Vietnam-Veterans-Untold-Stories/dp/150491399X 

Amelia Cunnigham is a dynamic and inspiring Korean War Woman Veteran. She served from 1954 -1957 as a morning report clerk in Manhattan.

Declining the opportunity to become an officer, she returned to Illinois to pursue a career in teaching.

Amelia Cunningham became a more famous Korean War Veteran after her Honor Flight to DC in 2018.

She has made an impact for generations in her teaching career, which was made possible by the GI Bill and scholarships, she felt she was able to receive because of her experience in the military.

Amelia is now 95-years-old, a retired teacher who doesn't own a computer or a smartphone.  Recording her interview was a good old-fashioned phone call.  

Despite not having state-of-the-art audio, this interview is truly state-of-the-heart.  An inspiring story indeed!

www.freedomsisters.com

Less than 1-month after the infamous speech from President Roosevelt after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Elinor Otto was on the assembly line making parts for warplanes, eventually working on KC-135s and C-17s.  

She is famous for being the longest-serving riveter of all time, 68-years on the assembly line!  Forced into retirement at age 95, when the Long Beach Boeing plant closed its factory doors forever.

Elinor sits down with Kerri Jeter for an incredible interview down memory lane, some tears, lots of laughs and even a song!

You don't want to miss this interview as the opening of our Women Warrior-Living Legacy 2021 Series!

Get the Freedom Sisters Magazine Today to read even more about this incredible icon, Elinor Otto. 

Trigger Warning: Hey listeners, we want you to prepare for this conversation so that you can adequately engage or, if necessary, disengage for your own wellbeing. Some of today's content may cause intense physiological and psychological symptoms for people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. 

To the family's left behind from the Oso Mudslide that I mention in this episode, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.  I will never forget them. 

Nicole and Kerri dive into part 2 of this conversation, it's almost like a coaching call between us, we share tears, real vulnerable stories and heartache coupled with breakthroughs.

Nicole Smith is a Military Veteran turned Life Coach and Mental Wellness Advocate, who recently retired after 20 years of honorable service in the United States Coast Guard. While serving our country, she suffered from anxiety and depression in silence.  She stayed quiet out of fear. Fear of judgment, shame, the possibility of losing her job, and ultimately the fear that no one would understand.

But after hitting rock bottom, she is now helping other women veterans and military spouses navigate their freedom too!

Verse of the week: Psalm 32:7.

You are my hiding place;

www.navigateyourfreedom.com

www.freedomsisters.com

Then, 18-year old Nicole Smith arrived at her first duty station in some fishing town in Oregon.  She signed in for duty as an operator, basically performing the duties of a 9-1-1 dispatch for the US Coast Guard.  Years after being told to brush aside her emotions, suck it up and drive on and mission first, in addition to her own personal struggles--suffered a broken heart.

What manifested in a massive panic attack, Nicole was experiencing suicide ideations and was in deep darkness, but then the doctor who was treating her panic attack spoke kind words and for the first time in forever, Nicole felt seen and understood.  

After having success in her own healing journey with a life coach, Nicole has become one herself, when she exited her 20-year Coast Guard career.

Now she is passionate about helping other women veterans and military spouses find true freedom for themselves as well.

Verse of the week: Matthew 18:12-14.

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

www.navigateyourfreedom.com

www.freedomsisters.com

Carrie Beavers is an Independent Affiliate at Scars and Stripes Coffee, and also a Scars and Stripes Squad leader for the Northeastern United States. She is a Disabled Veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 10 years on active duty and 5 months in the Army Reserves as a Combat Medic.

When she saw began her entrepreneur journey she was struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and feeling stuck in her life. Who can relate to that?  Unsure of the path you should take or stuck in the mundane or worse trapped in a mindset you want to be free from?

She had a great paying job as a nurse, but she felt like something was missing. Soon after joining the company she started to gain more confidence and felt that void being filled by being around other veterans, and of course, she loves the coffee so it was a win, win.

But now her life and business venture are even bigger as she is on the cusp of launching her very own coffee company, called Soldier Girl Coffee.  Her humor, drive, authenticity is incredible and energizing.....plus the coffee she sells is darn good, yall!

I cannot wait for you to hear this story and know that no matter where you are on the journey there is a path made just for YOU....so take one step at a time and work towards the goal you have set out to crush!

www.carriesbrews.org

www.freedomsisters.com