Show Notes
About our Guest:Master Chief Hollingsworth, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, enlisted in the United States Navy on 27 October 1998 after graduating from Alcee Fortier High School in 1998. She attended Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, and completed Cryptologic Technician Communications training in Pensacola, Florida. After seven years as a Cryptologic Technician Communications, she converted to Information Systems Technician in 2005. Her sea duty assignments include COMSEVENTHFLT permanently embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). Her shore assignments include NSGA Pensacola, NSGA Misawa, Commander Task Force 72 (two tours), NAS Pensacola, CID Unit Corry Station, and Naval Education and Training Command Supply Operations Chain. She was tried, tested, and accepted into the Chief’s Mess on September 16, 2011. She is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy Class 209 (Khaki) and CMC/COB Course #25070. She has earned her Information Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Aviation Warfare Specialist, and Master Training Specialist designations, and is also a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Master Chief Hollingsworth holds an Associate degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Her personal awards include six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous unit and campaign awards.
About the Episode:From this point forward, we’re calling her Kedia. Damo opens the episode by telling the story of the first time he met Kedia on USS George H. W. Bush… during a disciplinary review board where she didn’t hesitate to call him out. That moment sets the tone for a conversation about accountability, leadership, and the importance of practicing what you preach. The crew discusses the recent shooting involving an ROTC instructor at Old Dominion University and reflect on the loss of CSSN Angelina Resendiz, leading into a deeper conversation about responsibility, influence, and leading by example. Damon asks Kedia if she remembers her first 72 hours in the Navy, and the group talks about how those early experiences shape the leaders we become. Is it okay to follow your Sailors or your leadership on social media? Is there value in having an “anger translator”? What does lazy leadership actually look like? Damo asks Kedia how she balances being a Command Master Chief, a mother, and a graduate student working toward her Master’s degree. The group also tackles a tough question… how do you respond when people use their struggles as an excuse for poor decisions? The conversation turns to Admiral Caudle’s recently released CNOte 5, but the crew goes so deep into the first two principles they realize they could spend an entire episode on it alone. They also discuss what’s happening aboard USS Gerald R. Ford, take a listener question about self-righteous leaders, and read some of Kedia’s social media posts that sparked real conversation across the Fleet. Kedia shares how she spends the holidays with her Sailors, talks about betting on your leadership even when the risk is high, and reflects on how you know when it’s time to retire. The episode closes with one of the most personal Do Better segments we’ve had, as she speaks on legacy, mentorship, and the responsibility of wearing the anchors. These topics and much more are covered in this episode of the PTSF Podcast.
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
More from Permission To Speak Freely
What does it take to succeed in spaces where people believe you don't belong? In this episode of Permission to Speak Freely, Damo and Aaron welcome retired U.S. Navy Captain Dr. Barbara Bell for a conversation about perseverance, leadership, breaking barriers, and the lessons learned throughout an extraordinary career. As a member of the fourth class of women to enter the United States Naval Academy, Barbara experienced firsthand the challenges of entering an institution that was still learning to accept women. Her journey eventually took her into naval aviation, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, and efforts to expand opportunities for women in military service. Throughout the conversation, Barbara reflects on the importance of mentorship, the responsibility of being a trailblazer, and why standing out can sometimes be more powerful than fitting in. The discussion also explores leadership development, the role of artificial intelligence in education, and the importance of ethical leadership. Drawing from her book, Flight Lessons: Navigating Through Life's Turbulence and Learning to Fly High, Barbara shares perspectives on navigating adversity, embracing opportunities, and preparing the next generation of leaders.
Captain Marcus A. Canady joins Damon and Damo for a conversation about leadership, connection, trust, and what it means to truly know the people you lead. The conversation centers on Canady’s concept of “Intrusive Leadership,” a leadership style built around intentional engagement with people beyond their professional responsibilities. Canady explains why leaders should understand what is happening in the lives of their people, how trust has to be earned before those conversations can happen, and why being intrusive does not mean ignoring personal boundaries. As he explains during the conversation, leaders can put themselves “on the porch,” but the other person still has to invite them inside. The group discusses emotional intelligence, listening, accountability, mentorship, family, parenthood, diversity, mental health, suicide prevention, and the responsibility leaders have to understand perspectives different from their own. Canady shares stories from throughout his career, including leaders who intentionally invested in him, the impact his wife and family have had on his development, and a conversation with Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. about a leader who considered Brown’s family while helping map out his career. Damo reflects on his own leadership experiences and how his approach has changed over time, including learning more about the interests of younger Sailors at his command and finding ways to meet them where they are. Canady also challenges military organizations to think more deliberately about how they develop leaders of people, not simply leaders capable of accomplishing the mission.
This week on Permission to Speak Freely, Damon and Damo sit down with NC1 Corey Brennan for a conversation that starts with Navy recruiting and ends up going way beyond it. Corey breaks down what life is really like on recruiting duty, from competing for contracts and managing Future Sailors to MEPS, waivers, Genesis, recruiting ethics, and the things recruiters deal with that the Fleet rarely sees. He also opens up about his transition from QM to career recruiter, his aspirations to make Chief, and the uncertainty surrounding his future in the Navy as he navigates the service’s beard and PFB policies. But somewhere along the way, the conversation leaves recruiting behind. The crew gets into social media, burnout, learning to take care of yourself when everyone depends on you, marriage, fatherhood, separation, and the challenge of finding space for yourself when life never seems to stop. Corey also turns the tables on Damo and Damon with a few questions of his own, leading to conversations about what the anchors actually give a Chief, leadership as access and influence, and what people really mean when they tell Sailors to “drink the Kool-Aid.” Plus: recruiting house calls gone wrong, a 47-pound applicant, Equinox refusing to leave Damo alone, expensive one-year-old birthday parties, and Damon reveals the veteran husband strategy of simply standing up when your wife starts cleaning. Another conversation that went exactly where it was supposed to go.
Damo and Aaron are back for a guest-free episode covering Navy leadership, quality of life, money, artificial intelligence, and everything that happens when the conversation goes completely off script.