A show where US and Philippine military families are encouraged & empowered to live their best life as a military family through stories of people who have lived it.
Welcome to the Afterthought on the Military Family podcast! I'm your host, Mami Redj.
In this show, I'll share, not only my experiences as a military wife but also the stories of military members' spouses, children, and even parents who have faced disappointments and excitements, challenges and celebrations of this chosen lifestyle.
Excited to explore adventures as a military family? Subscribe now and don‘t miss an episode!
EP 24: How Sonny Sets Foot in the US Military's Tip of the Spear by Choosing the Army (Part 2)
How true is this: You can take the Pinoy out of the Philippines but you can't take the Philippines out of the Pinoy?
My guest moved to the US when he was two and always wanted to serve in the military since he was five. He served in the US Military and US Foreign Service, yet married a Filipina.
Even though he doesn't speak Filipino, he didn't let it stop him from teaching in the PMA. For free. Why? So he can give back to the Philippines. How? By helping senior PMA cadets be the best versions of themselves using the West-Point way.
Listen to this episode to learn from Sonny Busa how to take your own path and live life your own way without forgetting to look back.
About the Guest:
In 1976, Sonny Busa graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was an Army officer before entering the State Department as a Diplomatic Officer, serving in Honduras, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Kuwait.
He returned to the United States to work as a Professor of International Relations at West Point, and then he taught at the Philippine Military Academy in the Philippines.
He is married to Ceres Kawagas from Samar, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:
Discover the wonders and rewards of teaching as a profession
Learn why the US Military prioritizes military families the same way as service members
Learn how military members can get help for mental health issues within the service.
Check out these episode highlights:
(01:28) - From Latin America to Asia as a Consul General
(02:56) - His humbling experience serving in the Philippines
(04:31) - Getting called back to West Point to give presentations
(04:55) - His West Point teaching career
(08:54) - How he was "convinced" to teach in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
(10:36) - The advantage of being the only one to teach both at West Point and PMA
(13:37) - The benefits of entering the PMA and the culture within the campus
(17:03) - Comparing the mental health issues of the past with today
(19:03) - Struggles of the PMA cadets compared to West Point cadets
(21:17) - The importance of having a family while doing overseas assignment
(24:53) - His message to the military families
(27:11) - His advice to members struggling with their mental health
(28:31) - What the military means to him
(29:22) - How the military helps him to be a better person
Connect with Mami Redj:
https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/ (https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/)
Do you want to hear more stories about military families? This is the podcast for you. You can listen to it wherever you are, and it’s completely free. Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5nKmf9A5aXQRAEUeTBFQKN) today.
DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views, positions, and opinions of the U.S. Military, its Foreign Counterparts, and/or other entities they represent.
7 Oct 2022
EP 23: How Sonny Sets Foot in the US Military's Tip of the Spear by Choosing the Army (Part 1)
How do you choose one dream job over the other? Should you really give up one? Or should you do both?
Sonny Busa, my guest for this week, pursued both by using one goal as a stepping stone. He may have hated what he had to do to get in and stay at West Point, but he was able to achieve both. How? By having the discipline to finish what he started, by being clear on what he really wants, and by doing what's necessary to get there.
Listen to this episode to learn how his optimism even at a young age paved his success in the military.
About the Guest:
In 1976, Sonny Busa graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was an Army officer before entering the State Department as a Diplomatic Officer, serving in Honduras, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Kuwait.
He returned to the United States to work as a Professor of International Relations at West Point, and then he taught at the Philippine Military Academy in the Philippines.
He is married to Ceres Kawagas from Samar, and they have three daughters and four grandchildren.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:
Learn the 3 areas you need to excel in to get into West Point
Learn about the different branches of the United States Army
Discover the steps Sonny took to move from the US Army to the US State Department
Check out these episode highlights:
(03:01) - The irony of marching back to West Point with cadets decades after Sonny did it himself
(06:13) - How his fun experience as a Navy brat inspired him to get into the military
(09:52) - How having an eye condition led him to do fun stuff in the army
(11:06) - The 3 areas you need to excel in to get into West Point: Academics, Athletics, and Leadership
(12:43) - Getting in at 18 and the most challenging part of his 47-month stay at West Point (And it's not what you think)
(15:21) - A year of training before his first overseas assignment
(16:18) - The different branches of the Army and the role of a foot soldier (Hint: Saving Private Ryan)
(17:58) - Why everything about his Panama assignment was memorable and how it differed from his next assignment at Fort Ord
(20:19) - Getting selected to attend graduate school to continue his international relations studies
(20:46) - Why he refers to himself as the ‘world’s worst engineer’
(22:23) - Assignment versus Deployment
(23:03) - The many languages he knows
(24:10) - Giving up the army after 10 years to pursue his other dream job
(25:48) - Assignment in Honduras as an FSO
(27:45) - How he met his wife and the pros and cons of being married to a nurse
(29:37) - His two-year assignment in Korea as a Vice Consul
Connect with Mami Redj:
https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/ (https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/)
Do you want to hear more stories about military families? This is the podcast for you. You can listen to it wherever you are, and it’s completely free. Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5nKmf9A5aXQRAEUeTBFQKN) today.
DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views, positions, and opinions of the U.S. Military, its Foreign Counterparts, and/or other entities they represent.
30 Sept 2022
EP 22: How the Unwavering Faith of an Ex-call Center Agent Made Her Dream of Having a Podcast Marketing Agency a Reality
Don't get me wrong. Keeping faith and manifesting work BUT unfortunately it's not enough.
With her unwavering faith as her guide, Eloi was able to make one of her dreams a reality simply by not waiting for it to happen.
How? By taking action.
So listen to this episode to see a different side to Eloi as she bares it, fears and all, to share with us how she's able to build her agency, and eventually become the mentor she was meant to be through ValuePod Productions' Mentoring Program and The ValuePODcast Show.
About the Guest:
Eloisa Almonicido is the empowered "Tyang" of today's thriving podcast management service industry.
Her main purpose is to turn Filipinos into indispensable podcast managers or podcast agency owners in order to change their lives for the better.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:
Discover how freelancing is a realistic career choice, in addition to foreign and local employment
Understand how podcast skills are related to one another
Find out about the deadly combo you can use to get the results you want
Check out these episode highlights:
(02:53) - Who Tyang Eloi was before she entered the podcast industry
(04:06) - How she ended up working as a call center agent for 7 years
(05:15) - The major reason why she left her call center job
(06:53) - Learning freelancing from Jomar Hilario and Natasha Rivera
(08:31) - How she pursued podcast service as a long-term career
(10:35) - How she started doing it by herself
(14:08) - The real definition of a premium client and the types of clients she has
(17:11) - Eating rejections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
(20:23) - How ValuePod Productions started
(26:29) - The ValuePod Bootcamp 1, 2, and 3
(30:38) - Podcast service industry for military members and their family
(36:34) - Her goals and aspirations for the next 3 years
(37:53) - Her message to military moms, spouses, and veterans on how to find themselves so they can figure out what to do next with their career
(40:56) - What is next for ValuePod Productions
Connect with Eloisa Almonicido - Co-founder of ValuePod Productions and Podcast VA School by ValuePOD:
Join Podcast VA School by ValuePOD (https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastvaschool)
Follow ValuePod Productions (https://www.facebook.com/ValuePodProductions/?ref=page_internal)
Connect with Tsang Eloi (https://www.facebook.com/ealmonicido)
Connect with Mami Redj:
https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/ (https://facebook.com/mamiredjpodcast/)
Do you want to hear more stories about military families? This is the podcast for you. You can listen to it wherever you are, and it’s completely free. Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5nKmf9A5aXQRAEUeTBFQKN) today.
DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views, positions, and opinions of the U.S. Military, its Foreign Counterparts, and/or other entities they represent.
Contact Afterthought on The Military Family
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Afterthought on The Military Family?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
