Podcast
Sing Second Alumni
Hosted by Sing Second · EN
A weekly podcast for Naval Alums, friends and family. We bring you the latest news from the Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation.
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29episodes
Episodes
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Sing Second Podcast [May, 17, '26] featuring Thriving as Leaders Awardee Bob Ravener '81
3d ago01:03:50Tap to summarizeCommissioning Week is here, and John and Chris are pumped for the Class of 2026. The class of 2029 had a good week last week...Sea Trials...scaling Herndon in 2:17...Plebes no more!! Shout out to Jason Hedberg '94 and Mikie Sherrill '94, whose son Lincoln '29 was the capper. We also chat about a very special season for Navy Women's Lax, whose season ended in the elite 8 with a heartbreaking loss to Maryland. And we give the rundown on the activities that await during Commissioning Week. Our alumni interview this week features Bob Ravener '81, recently honored at our Joint Board meetings last month as one Of our Thriving as Leaders awardees in the Alumni Outstanding Achievement – Professional (AOA-P) category. Ravener’s visionary approach to veteran hiring has led to the employment of over 150,000 veterans across major companies like Home Depot, Starbucks, and Dollar General—each earning the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Freedom Award under his leadership. We also chat with Angela Domingos '00 this week about how to nominate amazing alums for these awards going forward. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast [May 05, '26] featuring Perry Martini '71 and Sydney Barber '21
2w ago01:10:43Tap to summarizeHere we go! Welcome to May. The Sing Second team is steaming toward the end of the season with a special double interview segment featuring Perry Martini from 71 and CAPT Sydney Barber '21. Ever wonder why the Bill the Goat mascot wears #71? Well...Perry Martini can tell you. Perry also dishes about his time in the Athletic Department back in the day and being a long-time class president. Also joining us is Sydney Barber. Sydney was the first feamle African-American Brigade Commander back in 2021, but we chat less about that and more about what she learned as a leader balancing a Mechanical Engineering major, being a Track & Field varsity athlete and trying to lead the Brigade through COVID. An amazing conversation. Don't miss two different alum perspectives from two Link in the Chain classes. Chris and John also break down a great weekend for Patriot League Champion Navy Women's Lax and a successful Board Season for the AA&F. And it's now GREAT CLASS CHALLENGE week!! Get out there and give. Which class will run this ship? Let's see. And finally, we offer some appreciation for the Naval Academy community and our fellow podcaster and soon-to-be college alum Colin Schofield. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast [Apr 30, '26] featuring Prudential Chairman and CEO Andy Sullivan ‘92
3w ago01:00:20Tap to summarizeTwo pods in one week?!? Yesssssir. Chris and John run back another pod to celebrate the arrival of May. They discuss the recent Council of Class Presidents meeting and preview the weekend ahead…which features Navy Rugby playing for the National Title! And our interview this week features another prime example of our alums making it happen from the Fleet to the C Suite - Prudential Chairman and CEO Andy Sullivan. Andy talks about his origins in Delaware, his perspectives on leadership and his vision for Prudential. A great convo on a wide range of topics. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast featuring USS John Murtha CO Erik Kenny ‘02
3w ago01:01:27Tap to summarizeA great pod this week as we talk about a bunch of stuff happening at AA&F and around the yard. Two alums were drafted this weekend in the NFL draft. We talk about the storybook night for Landon Robinson and Eli Heidenreich Saturday…and a pretty special moment for Margo Darragh ‘16, too. WWe also chat about the last Roadshow of the Winter/Spring season and the upcoming Great Class Challenge. And our Alumni interview this week is with Capt. Erik Kenny ‘02. Erik is the CO of USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), the ship that just recovered the Artemis and her crew a couple weeks ago. Erik joins the pod to talk about it all and the leadership required to command a crew through such a high-vis evolution. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →[Apr 23, 26] w/ Landon Robinson ‘26, Murphy Smith ‘25, & St. Johns Pres J. Walter Sterling
4w ago01:22:13Tap to summarizeA full plate this week as we dive deep into the NFL draft this weekend with a guy who’s likely going to hear his name called Saturday…Landon Robinson. The Football Team Co-Captain talks about the Prospect of being drafted and his favorite memories from his four years on the Severn. One of those memories was a post-game visit on the field in Baltimore with Kenneth Jary, an 83-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and TikTok sensation from Minnesota known for spreading joy and patriotism. We talk to Patriotic Kenny about Landon and his own health journey now. We also chat with Murphy Smith ‘25, who just finished the Boston Marathon at 2:08:58…the fastest marathon time of any USNA alum…EVER. And we also chat with new St. John’s President J. Walter Sterling about the Croquet match…a match USNA just won again this weekend. Chris and John also chat about this past weekend’s 50 Years of Women Celebration at the Fluegel Alumni Center and many more topics on a supersized version of the Sing Second Pod. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast[Apr 09, 26] introducing the new Naval Academy Athletic Foundation w/ Adm Bill Moran ‘81 & Becky Haase ‘94
Apr 900:48:35Tap to summarizeWelcome to the best Alumni Podcast in the business, people. Chris and John bring the goods this week with an exclusive conversation with Bill Moran ‘81 and Becky Haase ‘94 about the name change of the Athletic & Scholarship Programs (A&SP) to the Naval Academy Athletic Foundation. The Admiral and Becky open up about the conversations behind changing the name and take the time to talk in plain terms about the organization’s mission and real impact to the physical mission at USNA. The Athletic Foundation is all about leader development. Don’t miss this amazing conversation about that and many other hot topics around the physical mission. Chris and John also preview next week’s 50 Years of Women gala and the other happenings on the yard as the ac year starts wrapping up. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast[Apr 06, '26] featuring AD Michael Kelly and Alums on groundbreaking of the new Navy Lacrosse Center.
Apr 700:59:07Tap to summarizeSing Second Podcast featuring interviews with Athletic Director Michael Kelly and Lacrosse alums Jeff Johnson ’79 and Jon Brianas ’00 about the groundbreaking of the new Navy Lacrosse Center. The Naval Academy Athletic Association, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the new Navy Lacrosse Center, a 35,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility for Navy's men's and women's lacrosse programs. We are joined by AD Michael Kelly to discuss the new facility and the positive momentum behind it and all of Navy Athletics right now. As Michael said at the groundbreaking, “We are investing. We're building. We're demonstrating through action our belief in the physical mission and not only what it'll do on our fields and courts here for Navy athletics, but what it'll do for our country, because at Navy, we truly believe that we represent what college sports is at its very best. Navy athletics is college sports at its best now and forever.” We also chat with Jeff Johnson ‘79 and Jon Brianas ‘00, who attended the ceremony and very generously donated to the building’s fundraising. And Chris and John discuss the significance behind this week’s Bonds of Gold ceremony and recap a great weekend for USNA sports. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast [Mar 30, 26] with Emma Manzi ‘12 and Alumni Support Services Director Tony Spinler.
Mar 3001:04:05Tap to summarizeThe last pod of March! Can you feel it? It’s the ending of the dark ages and the beginning of the countdown to Graduation and Commissioning. The Sing Second Pod team brings you the latest from the Army-Navy star series…some news about the new Lacrosse building on the yard…and an appreciation for our AA&F teammate, John Taylor, who just retired after 54 years here. 54!!! We have a great conversation with our very own Tony Spinler ‘91 about Alumni Support Services. And our alumnae feature for the last pod of Women’s History Month is with LCDR Emma Manzi ‘12. Emma is a SWO, a small business owner and a soon-to-be-mom. How does she balance it all? She joins the pod to give the scoop on that and her business - Grace and Yarmouth. Check out the “SWO Mama” and her stuff at https://www.graceandyarmouth.com/ . That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast[Mar 23, '26] featuring Susan Yoshihara ’86
Mar 2400:57:01Tap to summarizeMarch is winding down, but the Sing Second Pod team couldn’t be happier, because that means it’s officially Orioles season! Chris and John talk about the great sporting events - like Army/Navy - that become great settings for connection and memories. Orioles Opening Day is that for the pod hosts. What is it for the alumni? Reunions? Croquet? Army/Navy? Blue Angels? The hosts also discuss the recent Presidential order protecting the Army-Navy game, and we talk about the invaluable heroes of the Naval Academy - Sponsor families. Our featured interview this week is Susan Yoshihara ‘86. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and prep for April’s 50 Years of Women gala at the Fluegel Alumni Center, Susan brings home the goods about her amazing experience in and out of uniform. Susan is founder and president of the American Council on Women Peace and Security (ACWPS), a non-partisan nonprofit organization advancing women’s leadership in international peace and security, and she served for 20 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy helicopter pilot in the Western Pacific. We have a great convo. Don’t miss it. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
Transcribe →Sing Second Podcast [Mar 16, '26] RADM Jim Shannon, USN (ret) ‘81 and AA&F Travel Program
Mar 1701:01:30Tap to summarizeMarch Sadness continued on the yard as the Women’s Basketball team joined the men’s team in getting upset in the Patriot League Tournament. So…no March Madness for Navy basketball, but the teams still get to play in some postseason tournaments. Chris and John discuss. March 16th is also the drop date for the AA&F Travel Catalog. We follow up last week’;s successful Travel Showcase at the FAC with interviews with AHI Travel and the WWII Museum about some of the trips they offer in partnership with us. Take it from us…it’s better to travel with an AA&F program. And our feature interview this week is with one of John’s old bosses, Jim Shannon ‘81. The Admiral helps us continue to mark Women’s History Month by offering his perspectives from his time as a Mid when the first classes of women arrived…his leadership perspectives from a great career in the Fleet and his “Pee Wee Reese” moment when it came time to really support his female Shipmates. It’s always good to chat with an Irishman on St. Patty’s, and Jim is indeed one of those. Slainte!! That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.
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