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Women Offshore Podcast

241 Episodes
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In Episode 241 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Samantha Cibelli, Sales Director at Kongsberg Maritime, to explore her 15-year career across sea service, commercial operations, and maritime technology. Samantha’s path began in the U.S. Coast Guard, where she served on active duty as a Marine Inspector in Houston, TX, leading teams through Flag State and Port State Control examinations. From there, she moved into sailing commercially as a deck officer aboard U....
In Episode 240 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Andrew Bruhl, mariner-turned-entrepreneur and founder of ShipShape Health, to explore the importance of physical and mental wellbeing in the maritime industry.Andrew’s journey began with a chance encounter on a ship passing through the Pascagoula Channel—a moment that inspired him to enroll at Texas Maritime Academy. After three years sailing tankers and container ships, he experienced firsthand how demanding lif...
In Episode 239 of the Women Offshore Podcast, Christine MacMillan sits down with Ana Čalić—a dynamic leader in the boating industry, and a passionate advocate for sustainability, diversity, and innovation. With a Master’s in Science, Business, and Innovation from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Energy and Sustainability, Ana’s mission is clear: to drive meaningful change at the intersection of technology, environment, and community. Ana serves as Business and Marketing Developme...
In this week’s episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, I sit down with Hayley Adlam, a woman whose career spans the world’s oceans and crosses industry boundaries. Hayley, now the Fleet Services Technical Interface Manager and Marine Environment UK Deputy at ASN, shares a compelling journey marked by technical excellence, environmental stewardship, and a deep-rooted commitment to mentorship. Hayley's offshore career began with a spark—her first trip with Gardline as a Marine Mammal Observer in...
Welcome to the Women Offshore Podcast! This is Episode 237. Christine first catches up with Liz Schmidt, Executive Director of Women Offshore. Then Christine has the chance to interview Fraser Flight about his bid to race in the Global Solo Challenge in 2027. This event is solo, nonstop, and unsupported. It's known as one of the most grueling races on the water, and Fraser has spent his life mentally preparing for this. Fraser Flight, a Zimbabwean-born Sailor, is on his way to become th...
What looks like steady successes compounding over time can feel like a long, slow climb during the process. Christalove Agyin-Ayetse is a proud Ghanaian from the Fante tribe who helped fulfill her father's dream of becoming a merchant mariner. During this interview, Christine MacMillan and Christalove discuss what life is like in Ghana, what loyalty and community mean to her, and the struggles of making her way in the industry that hasn't always been inviting. She shares her belie...
Miriam Anthony is no stranger to the Women Offshore Podcast. As a licensed Chief Mate and a Clinical Psychologist, she sits at the crossroads to provide mental health services to mariners. After witnessing the need in the industry, she pursued licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy, and now brings mental health to mariners. Miriam chairs the Mental Health Committee for the International Union of Masters, Mates and Pilots, and has been researching ways to improve the mental well-...
At Women Offshore, we’re committed to highlighting conversations that support the health, safety, and success of women in the maritime industry. In our latest podcast episode, The How-To of Healing, we welcome Pam Kern, MS, LCSW—an expert whose career bridges the gap between life at sea and mental health support on shore. Pam brings a rare and valuable perspective to the topic of therapy. She spent 18 years sailing the globe as a Guest Relations Manager aboard cruise ships, overseeing the wel...
In this episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, we share the anonymous story of a mariner who navigated a series of deeply uncomfortable and inappropriate interactions while on hitch. This story does not involve physical violence, but it does involve emotional manipulation, blurred boundaries, and delayed responses from leadership. These are issues that many offshore professionals have faced but rarely talk about openly. The story is real. The names and identifying details have been changed to...
In this episode of the Women Offshore Podcast, hosts Ally Tenorio and Laura McFalls delve into the multifaceted decision women face regarding changing their last names after marriage. This conversation is not just about personal choices but also encompasses professional identities and legal implications. The Personal Journey Ally shares her experience of transitioning from Cedeno to Tenorio, highlighting the emotional and cultural considerations involved. Laura discusses her decision to retai...
As enforcement guidance sharpens and the legal spotlight intensifies, how are organizations supposed to navigate DEI now? In this episode, we take a deeper look at what has unfolded since Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” was signed in January 2025. While the order targeted federal agencies, its ripple effects are reshaping how private companies, nonprofits, and universities approach diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative...
As political tides shift and legal scrutiny increases, is DEI dead? In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) following the January 2025 release of Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This federal directive has changed how government agencies—and increasingly, private companies—approach DEI initiatives. But what does that actually mean for those working in industries on the wate...
In this episode, titled "Anchored in Advocacy: How Capt. Kelly Gordon is Making Mental Health Matter," we delve into the inspiring journey of Captain Kelly J. Gordon. Growing up on a farm in small-town Indiana, Kelly's thirst for adventure led her from academia, where she served as a chemistry professor, to the helm of superyachts as an accomplished captain. Beyond her maritime achievements, Kelly is a passionate advocate for mental health within the yachting community. In 2024, she founded Y...
In today's episode of The Women Offshore Podcast, we focus on Mariner Mental Health with Maisa Ziegler. She is a mariner, therapist, and coach living in Hawaii and helping mariners find a better balance in their life. Trigger Warning! Christine hears from Maisa about her own traumatic event at sea that affected her Mental Health negatively until she sought help. Learning from that experience, she is now able to relate to mariners and build a trusting relationship with them to offe...
The Women Offshore Benefit Gala took place on February 8th at the Petroleum Club of Houston, Texas. Funds raised that night went towards scholarships for U.S. Maritime Academy cadets, supporting their essential sea terms. Special thanks to our table sponsors, including USMMA AAF, Transocean, Oxy, AMO, NOV, Chevron, Shell, Noble, Houston Pilots, ATPI, Stolt Tankers, Liskow, and the Consortium of State Maritime Academies, as well as the Tenorio Family and Carolyn Kurtz. Thank you to our speaker...
We’re back and more excited than ever to bring you fresh stories, honest conversations, and inspiring voices from the maritime industry! Kicking off this season, Christine MacMillian sits down with our first guest for the season, Rachel Pagonis, a Safety Officer onboard a cruise ship with over a decade of experience at sea. Rachel shares how her love for the water started unexpectedly, when she took a cruise at 14 years old, she thought working on a ship would just be a stepping stone while s...
Join Christine for a special send-off episode as we take a temporary pause on the Women Offshore podcast. We’re taking this break to reflect, regroup, and explore new ideas to bring you even more engaging content in the future. We will be working for a few months in silence to come back stronger and more successful. We’re excited about what’s ahead and grateful for our listeners' continued support. Stay tuned—there’s more to come. “Work hard in silence. Let success be your noise.” - Frank Oce...
The holiday season can be a challenging time for those working offshore as friends and family celebrate back home. In this episode, April Killian joins Ally Cedeno to share practical tips and heartfelt advice on making the most of the holidays while you're away at sea. They dive into the emotional toll of being separated from loved ones during special occasions and offer five specific strategies to stay connected and reduce feelings of isolation. From finding small ways to bring holiday cheer...
Join Ally and special guest April Killian, US Coast Guard Reserve Officer and Licensed Deck Officer – Unlimited Tonnage, as they kick off the holiday season with a thrilling ghost story! In this episode, April recounts the chilling tale of the Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait, a blazing apparition that has haunted the waters between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia for over 200 years. According to legend, the ghost ship’s masts and sails appear in full flame, a haunting spectacle that ...