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The Academy Insider Podcast - Your Guide to The Naval Academy Experience

GRANT VERMEER
Naval Academy
Annapolis
Leadership
Navy
The Naval Academy
Army Week
Plebe Summer
Service Academies
Civil Engineer Corps
Marine Corps
The Academy Families Travel Network
Super Bowl Sunday
Graduate Non-Commission (GNC)
VGEP
Stoicism
Leave
Liberty
Base Pay
Summer Training
Plebe Duties

The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families. Through the perspective of a community of former graduates and Naval Academy insiders, this podcast will help you learn about life at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Through our shared experiences, Academy Insider guides families through the anxiety and frustration caus... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes132Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for The Academy Insider Podcast

Latest Episodes

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Most Navy career conversations orbit ships, submarines, and aircraft. Meanwhile, an entire community is quietly building, powering, and repairing the platforms and bases that make all of that possible. I sit down with Roland De Guzm... more

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Rankings at the Naval Academy can feel like a a mystery until you learn the language behind it and understand the system. We walk through how midshipmen are constantly evaluated, why class rank matters at graduation and commissionin... more

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Plebe year ends with a fast, emotional sprint: finals wrap, intercessional leave hits, and then zero block brings the two biggest milestones most families are waiting for, Sea Trials and Herndon. If you’ve got a plebe at the U.S. Na... more

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Your son or daughter just earned a Naval Academy appointment and you’re proud, rattled, and unsure what to expect all at the same time. I get it. When a family doesn’t have a military background, USNA can feel like a different plane... more

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Recent Guests

Roland De Guzman
Naval Academy graduate, career Civil Engineer officer
Civil Engineer Corps (CEC)
Episode: #132 Learn About The Navy's Civil Engineer Corps
John Cordle
Author of Letters to Myself, naval officer with a 30+ year career
Author, Naval Officer
Episode: #125 BONUS Episode: An Interview with Dr. John Cordle (Letters To Myself)
Lori Coogan
Director of Parent Programs at the Naval Academy Alumni Association
Alumni Association
Episode: #122 Naval Academy Commissioning Week 2026: Schedules, Tickets, Parking, And More
Christian Blanchard
Class of 2017, aerospace engineering, Marine Corps/aviation trajectory
Naval Academy graduate
Episode: #118 The "Golden" Handshake: A Deep Dive Into the Graduate Non-Commission Experience
Cedric Williams
Co-creator of Blue Magnet, Naval Academy ally
Blue Magnet
Episode: #118 The "Golden" Handshake: A Deep Dive Into the Graduate Non-Commission Experience
Andrew Shea
Naval Academy graduate, Microsoft veteran, Operation MOS founder
Microsoft; Operation MOS
Episode: #118 The "Golden" Handshake: A Deep Dive Into the Graduate Non-Commission Experience
Laura Hatcher
Veteran photographer, headshots and portraits for veterans
Laura Hatcher Photography
Episode: #118 The "Golden" Handshake: A Deep Dive Into the Graduate Non-Commission Experience
Chris Cervello
Attorney focused on VA disability claims
Homefront Group
Episode: #118 The "Golden" Handshake: A Deep Dive Into the Graduate Non-Commission Experience
Karl Marvil
Former Naval Academy graduate, VGEP participant, and FDNF officer
Georgetown University (VGEP) / Naval Academy alumni
Episode: #115 VGEP explained: Start Your Masters while at the Naval Academy

Host

Grant Vermeer
Host of Academy Insider Podcast

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 131 ratings
  • The BEST Resource for Parents of Wannabe, soon-to-be and New USNA Midshipmen

    We discovered Grant’s podcast in 2019 when our son was just starting the sprint towards applications and MOC interviews. I secretly think Grant’s podcast helped my son earn the “Best Overall Candidate” out of 600+ high school juniors in Naval Academy summer seminar. After binge-listening and listening again, had a deeper grasp of what USNA was about and what they want in a midshipman. Just wanting USNA is not enough, especially for a white male non-recruited – athlete. Ryan had to articulate... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Therese7778
    United States7 months ago
  • Highly Recommend!

    Grant’s podcast is outstanding. I look forward to podcast each week and always learn something new. I’ve always been interested in the Naval Academy and Grant and his guests are able to share the details that civilians aren’t familiar with. Keep up the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RatPuke
    United States8 months ago
  • Best Source for Naval Academy Information!

    Grant Vermeer is not only a graduate of the Naval Academy and therefore a “goat,” but he’s THE GOAT! He’s incredibly insightful, fun to listen to, and genuinely wants to help those learn more about the Academy. I listen to all of his episodes. Can’t recommend enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dom.a1
    United States8 months ago
  • Insightful and Entertaining

    My son just started his plebe (freshman) year at the USNA, and I highly recommend this podcast to any family curious about this adventure. Search through the episodes, and you’ll find everything from induction day to interviews with grads from years ago who now do amazing things as senior officers or have become successful business people ( like Delta airline’s CEO). Grant has a gift for asking the right questions, which makes the discussions informative and engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Healthy economist
    United States10 months ago
  • Best podcast ever

    Grant has done a phenomenal job with Academy Insider. As a parent of a plebe, this has been a lifeline. I have sent episodes to friends, who have nothing to do with USNA but still are inspired by it and following it. They are getting insights into our new world by listening. I am grateful for the invaluable content, the compelling guests, and most of all Grant’s easy going and delightful personality that brings the show to life. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zombicool
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's approachable style and clear, actionable takeaways make episodes easy to implement.
Community-focused episodes and guest diversity are seen as strong positives for sponsorship alignment.
Guests are relatable and provide real-world insights into transitions and career paths.
Listeners value the insider perspective and practical guidance for families navigating academy life.
Audience feedback highlights helpfulness for prospective applicants and current midshipmen families.

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The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times
Behind the Bastards
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Humans
HumansHank Green

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#100 The Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation
Q: Where are you from, how you ended up in the Navy, and how you landed in this role with the Alumni Association & Foundation?
The guest shares that he hails from Utah and Colorado, had a Naval career including a PAO role, and then transitioned into the Alumni Association as Executive Director of Communications, bringing a communications and public affairs background to the foundation's mission.
#102 Forge Your Future: Admissions Tips and Insight from The Founders of FYF
Q: What is the scope of help you're going to be providing if someone reaches out to Forge Your Future?
We offer free interview preparation, essay reviews, and deadline accountability to help students stay on track through the nomination and application cycles for Service Academies or ROTC, with tailored mentoring depending on the applicant's needs.
#094 Navy Formula SAE - Building Cars and Character
Q: First question, how do you determine who gets to drive the Formula SAE car?
Drive assignments depend on involvement, physical size, and driving ability; those who contribute more and fit the car's driving requirements are more likely to drive, with safety and skill being key considerations.
#093 - The Academy Families Travel Network
Q: How does someone actually use the network when they are traveling to Annapolis or other service academy hubs?
They email academyfamiliestravelnetwork@gmail.com with their affiliation and travel needs, then the organizers share a vetted list of hosts; travelers contact hosts directly and coordinate arrangements.
#132 Learn About The Navy's Civil Engineer Corps
Q: What makes the CEC a good fit for graduates who want to use analytical skills and lead troops?
CEC is ideal for those who want to leverage analytical, technical problem-solving skills and also lead people; the role blends engineering with leadership, and offers stability in assignments while still providing meaningful, hands-on leadership opportunities.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Academy Insider Podcast

What is The Academy Insider Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast serves as a practical resource for families and individuals connected to the Naval Academy, offering insider perspectives on life at the institution, the transition to naval or civilian careers, and the many logistical, academic, and personal development topics surrounding midshipmen and graduates. Episodes regularly cover commissioning Week logistics, major selection, career pathways, and support resources for Graduate Non-Commission experiences, veterans' transitions, and mentoring networks. Notable strengths include first-hand stories from graduates, a focus on under-explained aspects of academy life (liberty policies, ship selection, VA benefits, and financial planning), and a willingness to showcase community-driven program... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Academy Insider Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Academy Insider Podcast:

1. USNA MidMoms and More Podcast
2. Sing Second Alumni
3. Gain Service Academy Admission
4. The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
5. The Art of Manliness

How many episodes of The Academy Insider Podcast are there?

The Academy Insider Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 132 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Academy Insider Podcast?

Recent guests on The Academy Insider Podcast include:

1. Roland De Guzman
2. John Cordle
3. Lori Coogan
4. Christian Blanchard
5. Cedric Williams
6. Andrew Shea
7. Laura Hatcher
8. Chris Cervello

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.

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