Badass in Heels

Episode 15: Lou Ann Sandstrom

Retired Supervisory Special Agent Lou Ann Sandstrom served in the FBI for 28 years. In this episode, she takes us to the world of SWAT, having become the first female operator in the Oklahoma City Division. She shares with us her career from working narcotics, organized crime, terrorism, running and gunning in the reactive unit, becoming a crisis negotiator, and a polygrapher!

Episode 14: Beth O’Brien

Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Beth O'Brien served in the FBI for 28 years! She worked civil rights and environmental violations and espionage at Oak Ridge, Knoxville. Are you thinking Oppenheimer? While in Norfolk, she racked up about 72 convictions and saved a man's life! She became the first SSA at the Knoxville office, where she also acted as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) and Acting Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), while still covering her SSA desk! Beth shares with us the challenges of being at the Academy and a new mom at HQ. Tune in now to listen to her amazing story-- from attorney to badass Special Agent!

Episode 13: Amber Mann, Runaway Girls

Special Agent Amber Mann from the Omaha Field Office lets us in her journey in the world of the ATF and FBI. In her short tenure with the Bureau, Amber has worked white collar crime and human trafficking. She now leads the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) task force, where she does extraordinary work saving children, teenagers and young adults from predators. Amber shares with us stories of "Runaway Girls," who perhaps had hope for a better life, but instead, fell pray to pimps and the on-line prostitution world. Listener discretion is advised.

Episode 12: Sasha Taylor, Retired Intelligence Analyst

Sasha Taylor medically retired from the FBI after serving for 11 years as an Intelligence Analyst. Sasha supported several portfolios at FBI Headquarters from counterterrorism to counterproliferation. In this episode, Sasha starts by talking to us about her early years, a very challenging episode of her life, in which she was forced into marriage as a child. Sasha shares her story, how she came out a survivor, and how she made it to the Bureau. She talks to us about what it was like to work at HQ, in different units and with different people. Sasha also shares how difficult it was to prematurely part ways with the Bureau. Sasha concludes by talking to us about how she is now an advocate against child marriage and violence against women, an effort that she effects through her consultant company Reality of a Desi Girl. Sasha's story is that of pain, of gender inequality and loss of rights, of traditions that have made their way to the United States, of suffering in silence, but most importantly of resilience and survival. This is an emotional charging episode, one that I hope educates you on the matter, and hopefully, it helps someone in need.

Episode 11 Part 2: Powerhouse Woman, Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese

In the second part of episode 11, retired Supervisory Special Agent Rhonda Glover Reese talks to us about leadership. She tells us about the challenges of ascending the ladder into Senior Executive Service (SES) positions and how those challenges put her on the path of true leadership! She also shares with us about her many accolades, her decisions to start mentoring and coaching others, and her company the Rhonda M. Glover Group LLC.

Episode 11: Powerhouse Woman, Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese

Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese is a retired Supervisory Special Agent who served in the FBI for 34 years. She held various leadership roles from Program Manager/Program Coordinator, Supervisory Special Agent to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC). She also had temporary duty assignments within the Senior Executive Service at FBIHQ. In part 1 of episode 11, Dr. Reese talks to us about her mother, a hidden figure! Yes, she was a mathematician for NASA! and how her mother was her inspiration. Dr. Reese talks to us about her journey into the Bureau, beginnings, progressions, her work as an Undercover Agent and leading narcotic investigations, and we begin our conversation about her leadership journey!

Episode 10: Trailblazer Larissa Knapp

Larissa Knapp is the current Executive Assistant Director (EAD) of the FBI's National Security Branch. EAD Knapp is the highest-ranking FBI Special Agent and the first Asian American woman to achieve such branch. Talk about breaking the glass ceiling! EAD Knapp and I engage in a candid conversation about her life and career. Tune it to hear how a girl raised in New York climbed to the top and how she leads the FBI with excellence!

The Israel-Hamas War with Special Guest Bob Dougherty

Special Guest Bob Dougherty, a retired CIA Operations Officer, with 26 years of Agency experience, 23 of which he spent undercover working terrorism matters, and I have a conversation about the Israel-Hamas war. We have a candid discussion and provide our thoughts on the war, perspectives based on working the Hamas threat and potential impact on the homeland, and talk about how to stay vigilant during these heightened state of security.

Edición Especial: Doris Beaton

This is a Special Edition episode recorded in Spanish.  Retired SSA Doris Beaton has 27 years of federal government experience, 25 of those dedicated to the FBI. Doris started her career in the FBI in 1997 as a Clerk at the HIDTA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, then was promoted to FOIPA PA Paralegal Specialist. In the year 2000, she attended Quantico and became a Special Agent. During her career, Doris worked in San Juan, Puerto Rico and at HQ in Washington, DC. Doris worked investigations related to crimes against children, domestic and international terrorism, and, counterintelligence and espionage. She was the SSA for the domestic terrorism squad, HUMINT squad, and was a CHS Coordinator for the entire SJ office. Doris led counterintelligence efforts under the oversight of the White Office and she and her team received accolades and citations for their extraordinary work. Doris was also a firearms instructor, providing instruction for 15 years in the San Juan and in the Jacksonville, FL offices. Doris retired after 25 years from the Jacksonville office.

Episode 9, Part 2: No One is For Sale

Retired FBI Special Agent Ida D'Antonio Hangen shares with us her journey into the law enforcement world and talks to us about her 22-year career in the Bureau. Ida who had a remarkable 28 year career in law enforcement, worked against human trafficking, crimes against children, and Indian Country Crime. From heart-wrenching cases to tips that can save our children and teenagers, this episode is not to be missed! Listener discretion is advised as there is sensitive content related to violence, sexual abuse, and suicide.