Spotlight 32: Recent Episodes
Ty Norman
Interviews with members of the 32nd Squadron at Fort Meade aimed to improve our virtual connectedness.
This past week I had the chance to sit down with SMSgt Jay Hughes. If any of you haven’t had a conversation with him yet I’d highly recommend it. He’s a very open person who we could all learn something from. We talked about surfing in NC, September 11th, Jiu Jitsu and how it differentiates itself from other martial arts, teaching empathy, how to influence the people you work with, and how complaining isn’t really a bad thing for leadership teams. If you’d like to be part of the program you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. I do also accept questions you’d like others to be asked or any other suggestions to make the show better.
Today I’d like to bring you a special treat. I spoke with newly promoted MSgt Johnson, the Deputy Flight Chief of Corona and I enjoyed every minute of it. Come listen to what she had to say about her career through which she’s never stayed at a base for more than two years, what it’s like to be stationed in Alice Springs, hopping from Greendoor to Greendoor, her favorite supervisor/mentor, and Corona’s outspoken airmen. If you’d like to be part of the program you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. I do accept questions you’d like asked to others in the future or any other suggestions you might have.
When you want to have fun or feel connected, talk to SrA Eckersell. I had a fun time with this interview. We talked about things like being his Flight Morale Officer, including people, his Blue Knight of the Month Award, living in snow and the monstrous snowmen and forts you can build, biking long distances, and his paintball charity team. If you would like to be part of the podcast you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.
Hear from MSgt Ryan Stratton while we talk about the role the military has played in our lives, giving back to the people who will one day be our replacements, disc golf, and who would win in a fight between the F5 Tornado from Twister and the wind at Mildenhall. For those who may be feeling less Blue than right now, I’d highly recommend this episode. I left feeling like I had a little one-on-one pro-dev that left me wanting to do something with my flight to bring myself closer to them. If you want to be part of the podcast you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. I do accept questions you might want to have asked to future interviewees and any suggestions to make the show better.
Please take a load off and check out this podcast with TSgt Brown. We talk about our families, living in Guam, going to Catholic school, journaling, how delegation gets things done, supporting many people at home and work. If you want to be part of the program you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com . I do also accept suggestions to make the podcast better, nominations for people you’d like to hear from, and questions you’d like to have asked.
Come take a listen to my conversation with MSgt Josie Barton. We talk about her bodybuilding background, becoming more well-rounded by focusing on mental toughness, surprise vacations with children, pushing airmen to continuously achieve more, and the Houston Astros (that being said, GO OAKLAND!). If you want to be part of the the program you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.
Come take a listen to my interview with MSgt Davis, Yeti's flight chief. We talk about her love for her dogs, video games, and cars, as well as her experience as a back-shop maintainer, never having an overseas assignment, what she'll do once her career comes to a close, mafia movies, and the most show that touts one of the most expensive pilot ever filmed, Lost. If you'd like to be part of the show, email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. Feel free to send in any questions you'd like to have asked to future interviewees or any other suggestions.
In this episode I talked to A1C London Thomson-Merriman. We discussed his educational and professional goals, "foraging" (an extreme form of camping), his large family, why people don't like to watch shows about their own career field, and what his dream vacation is. If you'd like to be part of the show email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.
On this episode we talk to TSgt Christine Baptiste. We talked about her upbringing in a Haitian home in Brooklyn, 9/11 and the community response, confirmations that joining the military was the right thing to do, cooking with a pressure cooker, and so so so many underutilized programs the AFRC offers including dietitians, budget planners, and parenting classes with gifts! If you would like to be part of the program, email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.
This is the beginning of a new project within the project - interviewing all of the 32d flight chiefs. Topics covered by MSgt S included the pronunciation of his last name, living in Turkey, more advanced training and the benefits it reaps, how a flight should be run, building trust with airmen, and golf. If you'd like to be part of the program you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. Please send in any questions you might have that you would like asked to future guests.
While talking to TSgt Reynolds we learn a bit more about multi-family home buying, passive income, the places she's been and where she hopes to go, and how much it costs to get a burger and fries in Norway.
This time around I talked to SrA Njukia Kiuri (pronounced Jo-kee-uh Kee-ree) and, boy, was it enlightening. We hit topics like his upbringing in Nairobi, Kenya, college in Kalamazoo, MI, the differences between Kenya and D.C., joining the Air Force, getting lost in the woods on purpose, how much social media is good, and small excerpts from our BMT experiences, and education. Really, if you want a good episode to listen to, check this one out. I was thoroughly uplifted after this interview from SrA Kiuri's fantastic attitude and unique perspective.
In this installment of Spotlight 32, I talked to TSgt Sanchez. We hit topics like joining the military later in life, pranking coworkers, eating exceptionally spicy food, being tazed, and our fears. This Memorial Day weekend, Sgt Sanchez will be participating in the virtual Bataan Death March Challenge. Anyone interested in doing this 60.1 mile ruck can go to www.bataanchallenge.com. All proceeds are given to charity. If you would like to part of this program email to spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.
This time around I spoke with A1C Guzman Santos. We talked about such things are living just outside of NYC, strong family connection, video and board games, robotics, and finding a purpose by joining the military. If you would like to be part of the podcast you can email me at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. Feel free to also send in any questions you would like to hear me ask and any other suggestions to elevate our collective experience.
Come listen to my conversation with Major Stefan Katz. We talk about his new dog, Luna, foreign travel, whether pineapple belongs on pizza, personal goals, and what we can learn from broadening our perspectives. If you would like to be part of the program please email spotlight32podcast@gmail.com. Thank you for listening.
In this very first episode I interview TSgt Makenzie Harris. We talk about TV shows, our goals, her recent professional development class about feedback, and, most importantly, food. If you would like to be part of this podcast, please email at spotlight32podcast@gmail.com.