Featured Sea Stories
SAL MERCOGLIANO ON THE RED SEA UPDATES, EPISODE 195
Christine has Dr. Sal Mercogliano on the podcast today. Sal is Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science at Campbell University. He is also an adjunct professor at the US Merchant Marine Academy and a former merchant mariner. He hosts...
AGAINST THE CURRENT: A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE IN THE MARITIME WORLD WITH KITARA SMOLINSKI, EPISODE 193
Today on the podcast, we bring you an unforgettable speech delivered by Kitara at the Women Offshore Benefit Gala. Join us as we dive into Kitara's remarkable journey—a tale of resilience, perseverance, and the unwavering spirit...
VINEETA DHILLON SPEAKS ABOUT THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, EPISODE 192
Join us on today's podcast as Christine MacMillan engages in a heartfelt conversation with Vineeta Dhillon, a remarkable woman whose journey from India to the USA in 1986 is a testament to resilience and determination. Currently calling California home, Vineeta has...
CASSIDY PATTON AND THE ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, EPISODE 191
On today's episode, Christine gets to speak with Cassidy Patton from Ketchikan, Alaska, who grew up in a fishing community that inspired her to seek out a career at sea. She shares all about the Alaska Marine Highway System, along with diving into her interesting...
NAVIGATING WAVES: RENA NAVARRO’S JOURNEY FROM EDUCATOR TO CAPTAIN, EPISODE 190
Set sail with us on another captivating journey in the Women Offshore community! Today, we're thrilled to introduce Rena Navarro, a mariner whose passion for the sea knows no bounds. Join us as Rena, a USCG Certified Instructor, Captain, and Old Boat Enthusiast, takes...
CONFRONTING SKEPTICISM AT WOMEN OFFSHORE, EPISODE 189
Dive into an inspiring tale of resilience and determination with today's episode of the Women Offshore podcast! President Ally Cedeno takes us behind the scenes, revealing the untold challenges she encountered while laying the foundation of this remarkable...
Navigate Your Career
CHIEF ENGINEER NELLIE TORMALA SHARES HER STORY, EPISODE 164
In today's episode, Christine speaks with Nellie Tormala as she shares her story of how she found her authentic self. Nellie shares how she first came to the sea to isolate and run from her true identity as a woman. She shares about her transgender journey and how it...
CHRISTINE AND ALLY ON TIME MANAGEMENT, EPISODE 161
In today's episode, Ally and Christine talk about time management. They discuss how hard it is to say no and how important it is to prioritize the important things in your life. Your priorities will shift with time and that's ok. They go over ways to help you be more...
LARKIN SHARES HER LESSONS LEARNED, EPISODE 160
In today's episode, Christine talks with Larkin Bohn about how she started her offshore career at the age of 31 and has the message, "Anything is Possible!" Starting in the gift shop department of Norwegian Cruise Lines, she fell in love with life at sea but yearned...
LT ALICE BEITTEL- NOAA CORPS, EPISODE 159
In today’s episode, Christine talks with Lieutenant Junior Grade (Lt. j.g) Alice Beittel, who is a commissioned officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps (NOAA Corps), currently serving as the Advanced Survey Technology Officer at the NOAA...
ALLY AND CHRISTINE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO LEVEL UP IN THE WORKPLACE, EPISODE 154
In today's episode, Ally and Christine discuss communication skills and how to use them to level up the workplace. They give great advice on how to listen well, receive feedback, and have successful conversations. These are excellent reminders of how to handle your...
What I learned from the 2022 Women Offshore Conference
I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s conference and came away, first and foremost, with the overwhelming impression that those who attended are remarkably dedicated workers and strong representatives of their respective communities. They are true assets to the industry...
Podcast
Celebrating the Holidays While Offshore, Episode 223
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...
Ghost Ship on Fire: Ally Cedeno and April Killian Share a Haunting Tale of Northumberland Strait, Episode 222
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...
The Future of Inclusion: David Reid’s Key Insights from the Summit, Episode 221
In this episode, Christine interviews David Reid, the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at NOV, to recap the key takeaways from the Inclusion Summit. With over 30 years of experience in advancing drilling technology and oilfield digitization, David...
Amy Liddell – When Everything Goes Awry In The Best Way Possible, Episode 220
In the latest Women Offshore episode, Christine interviews Amy Liddell, a dedicated maritime recruitment specialist who is passionate about connecting top talent with the maritime industry's leading companies. Amy talks about moving from a theater/dance student to a...
Charting a Course with Captain Victoria Ajinkya, Episode 219
In this exciting episode of Women Offshore, Christine McMillian sits down with Captain Victoria Ajinkya, a seasoned maritime professional with over 11 years at Tidewater and roots in the UK. Victoria dreamed of working on the water from a young age, inspired by a...
Slowing Down to Propel Forward, Episode 218
In today's episode, Christine provides an exciting update on the future of Women Offshore, sharing insights into the upcoming events and initiatives that are set to make waves in our community. As we continue to expand and introduce new programs, Christine explains...
Launching Soon – Membership!
Offshore Lifestyle
What to Expect During Your First Time Working Offshore
Are you heading offshore soon for the first time? Below, learn what to expect when you depart for your vessel! Over the course of my offshore career, I have bounced around to almost ten different offshore drilling rigs. Each one became home for a period of time in my...
Redefining Safety Offshore: Ensuring Women’s Wellbeing at Sea
Safety, the s-word; it is everywhere in our industry. Just add the s-word and things will be good to go, right? Wrong. This methodology, using “safety” everywhere without understanding what it truly means for keeping people safe is dangerous, in itself. I want to...
A Day in the Life of a Puget Sound Pilot
Below, read a day in the life of Captain Peter Giese, a Puget Sound Pilot, and get ready for the upcoming Pilot Exam from the Washington State Board of Pilot Commissioners! "It all starts with a call from dispatch with my job assignment details. Let's say I'm...
Training at Sea to Run the World in 7 Days
It's 1600 and I am lacing up my sneakers. I head down to the lower decks where I will spend the next hour or so. No, I am not working overtime, I am going for a run. The other officers have stopped asking, “oh, are you going to run today?” Instead, they stop me...
Call Me Chief: Women’s Leadership in the Maritime Industry
One month ago, I was driving home from the airport. I had flown into San Francisco from Seattle and was headed home through Sonoma County to my mom’s house in Napa, where I would get my things together before going to work that night. I was sitting there in the...
Does Industry Humor Attract Business?
The letter 'X' in the old adage, "X marks the spot," has all but washed up, as the trendier letter 'G' has taken its place. That's right, folks! You want to find that gold? G-Spot claims to know exactly where it is and how to help you find it. Several weeks ago, I...