Rephonic
Artwork for Permission To Speak Freely

Permission To Speak Freely

Damon Leggins and Andamo McCullough
Leadership
U.S. Navy
Mental Health
Social Media
United States Navy
Chief's Mess
Covid-19
Military Life
Military Culture
Discrimination
Accountability
Navy
Engineering Incidents
Drake
Chief Petty Officer
Senior Enlisted Leadership
Fleet Master Chief
Women's History Month
Retirement
Kendrick Lamar

Damon and Damo (active duty Command Master Chiefs) share sea stories and have unfiltered conversations about current events, policies, and everyday life as a service member.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes225Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Permission To Speak Freely

Latest Episodes

This Reflash is a double feature.

Two conversations brought back together in one episode, centered on accountability, perception, and how Sailors navigate the system. Featuring ABCM (Ret.) Alquin Parker, the discussion takes a deep dive into the CPO... more

Damon, Damo, and Aaron are joined by AZ2 Makel Jackson, a listener-turned-guest and active duty Navy Aviation Maintenance Administrator. The episode kicks off with Damo discussing question submissions for an upcoming episode, board eligible results, ... more

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, Ill... more

YouTube

No Aaron. No guest. No worries. Damon and Damo were built for an impromptu episode. LOL. Damo starts by reflecting on an event he held with a small group of Sailors at his command. Somehow, that leads to a conversation about restricted barracks. Are ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Dateline NBC
Dateline NBCNBC News
48 Hours
48 HoursCBS News
The Deck
The DeckAudiochuck
20/20
20/20ABC News

Recent Guests

Kedia Aquinar Hollingsworth
Cmd Master Chief, guest on the episode
Navy
Episode: Episode 183 | "A Whole Situation" (Feat. CMDCM Aquinor Hollingsworth)
Charles Ferguson
Active-duty chaplain and author
U.S. Navy
Episode: Episode 181 | "Don't Be Weird" (Feat. CDR Charles Ferguson)
ITCS Troy Johnson
Information Technology Chief Specialist in the Navy
Episode: Episode 175 | "BCA Challenged" (Feat. ITCS Troy Johnson)
April Beldo-Lilley
Fleet Master Chief, retired and first African American woman command master chief at several Navy command levels
Navy
Episode: Episode 173 | "When the Door Opens" (Feat. April Beldo-Lilley, FLTCM Ret.)
Kenneth Batchler
OSC with almost 18 years of service in the Navy
Episode: Episode 171 | "That's When It Happened" (Feat. OSC Kenneth Batchler)
Charles Johnson
Founder of The Bump Serum
Episode: Episode 164 | "What's a Vibe?" (Feat. Charles Johnson)
Captain Lacey M. Vestal
Active duty officer and amateur bodybuilder, speaks on experiences in military service and fitness
U.S. Navy
Episode: Episode 159 | "Blink Twice If You're Okay" (Feat. Captain Lacey M. Vestal)
Sean Johnson
Navy detailer with experience in military assignment processes
Episode: Episode 156 | "Sometimes U Gotta Bite the Billet" (Feat. AMEC Sean Johnson)
Josh Mackey
Medical Officer with 20 years of service
Episode: Episode 155 | "Did You Download Your OMPF?" (Feat. HMC Josh Mackey)

Hosts

Damon
Host with deep Navy leadership experience; active-duty Command Master Chief; Navy career spanning multiple decades.
Damo
Co-host with extensive Navy leadership background; active-duty Command Master Chief.
Aaron
Co-host often involved in discussions on current events and leadership within military life; Navy veteran.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 119 ratings
  • Real World Convos from Real Leaders

    The Permission to Speak Freely podcast stands out because it doesn’t feel like a podcast. It feels like you pulled up a chair in the middle of a real conversation that was going to happen whether microphones were present or not. That authenticity is what separates Damo, Dame, and Aaron from most shows in the space.

    The flow between the three of them is the strongest part of the podcast. There’s no forced structure, no awkward waiting for someone’s turn, and no sense that anyone is trying to per... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doc Mackey
    United Statesa month ago
  • Perfect for everyone

    I can’t even begin to express how much I adore this podcast as a veteran and now as an embedded integrated prevention coordinator! Your content and ability to connect to everyone is unmatched by any podcast. I love sharing your podcast with sailors and engaging in conversations with them after. Thank you for all that you do and for the confidence in leadership you are giving to sailors everywhere! ♥️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pbell86
    United States7 months ago
  • Keep going!

    Great podcast an open space where leaders and future leaders, especially junior Sailors, can gain a clear perspective on what genuine leadership looks and sounds like. I look forward to the content every week keep it coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    “Cleve”
    United States7 months ago
  • Moral Booster for sure 😭

    Thank you for being so consistent with your episodes. We are going through tougher times right now and we are all trying to navigate the climate of the works while also navigating the navy. It’s hard but thank yall for showing up for us and putting quality content. Even the domo solo episodes! It’s nice to hear your thoughts free range. Maybe it’s helps you as well. This podcast needs to blow up more and I tell everyone I know about it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CynthiaT367
    United Statesa year ago
  • Mandatory Listen

    This is the only podcast I listen to! The conversations these three have are great! This podcast is fire hands down! Everyone should tune into this podcast. I don’t even listen to music anymore I only tune in for the podcast. I hope this podcast last for years to come!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    McNasty904
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate guest perspectives that offer new insights into Navy culture and transitions.
Show is seen as a trusted space for sailors and spouses to explore tough topics with humor and empathy.
Audience values practical leadership takeaways and relatable stories from active duty.
Listeners praise honesty and transparency from Navy leaders who share real-world experiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#76
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 179 | "Cleared"
Q: When you decided to re-analyze what factors did you consider?
The hosts discussed their personal motivations for re-enlisting and the importance of aligning one's goals with personal fulfillment.
Episode 174 | "You Can't Make This Shit Up" (Feat. Marc Tinaz, CDR, USN, Ret)
Q: So, Marc, you brought up that you did 33 years, right? What are some of the major changes that you've seen?
Three significant changes: when I came in, after a few years we were doing retirement ceremonies for Vietnam veterans; 9/11 changed training dynamics; in the last ten years of service, missions and the nature of sailors changed greatly.
Episode 160 | "Fishing Trip"
Q: What happens when we as leaders make feedback wrong?
We get to a point where as military service members, no matter what position and leadership you are, you're better seen and not heard.
"Reality is Reality" | Bonus Episode
Q: How this ever happened to you before?
Damo reflects on instances of experiencing slurs and racism during online gaming.
Episode 150 | "Retreat, Hell" (Feat. Patrick Trujillo)
Q: What would you tell yourself on your last day as a Marine?
I would say the knee jerk response is don't be so hard on yourself. Everything's going to be okay.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Permission To Speak Freely

What is Permission To Speak Freely about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program features candid, unfiltered conversations between two active-duty Command Master Chiefs as they discuss leadership, Navy life, and current events through a personal lens. Episodes frequently center on mentorship, mental health, family dynamics, and the tension between mission readiness and service members' well-being, often weaving in firsthand sea stories and practical leadership insights. A notable throughline is bridging military culture with civilian understanding, including navigation of retirement, transitions to civilian life, and policy shifts that affect service members. The format tends to blend levity with serious topics, creating a relatable space for servicemembers, veterans, spouses, and defense professionals who ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Permission To Speak Freely?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Permission To Speak Freely. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Permission To Speak Freely and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Permission To Speak Freely get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Permission To Speak Freely, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Permission To Speak Freely?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Permission To Speak Freely, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Permission To Speak Freely have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Permission To Speak Freely has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Permission To Speak Freely?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Permission To Speak Freely:

1. Bridge of Lies
2. Dateline NBC
3. 48 Hours
4. The Deck
5. 20/20

How many episodes of Permission To Speak Freely are there?

Permission To Speak Freely launched 5 years ago and published 225 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Permission To Speak Freely?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Permission To Speak Freely?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Permission To Speak Freely from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Permission To Speak Freely?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Permission To Speak Freely. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Permission To Speak Freely?

Recent guests on Permission To Speak Freely include:

1. Kedia Aquinar Hollingsworth
2. Charles Ferguson
3. ITCS Troy Johnson
4. April Beldo-Lilley
5. Kenneth Batchler
6. Charles Johnson
7. Captain Lacey M. Vestal
8. Sean Johnson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days