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The Academy Insider Podcast - Your Guide to The Naval Academy ExperienceAuthor: GRANT VERMEER
The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families. Through the perspective of a community of former graduates and Naval Academy insiders, this podcast will help you learn about life at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Through our shared experiences, Academy Insider guides families through the anxiety and frustration caused by lack of understanding, misinformation, and confusion. This platform is designed to better relationships between midshipmen and their loved ones. This podcast is not affiliated with the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy or Department of Defense. The thoughts and opinions are exclusively those of your host and his guests. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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#125 BONUS Episode: An Interview with Dr. John Cordle (Letters To Myself)
Episode 125
Thursday, 9 April, 2026
Send us Fan MailA single book can change your life, and sometimes it starts with one brutal question: what do you wish you’d known back then? We sit down with Dr. John Cordle, a retired Navy captain, to talk about his new book Letters to Myself and the real experiences behind it, from early doubts at the United States Naval Academy to the pressure-cooker moments that define military leadership.John explains why he structured the book as letters to his younger self at major career milestones, pulling one core lesson from each phase: technical proficiency, tactical growth, self-care, and even failure. We get into what it felt like to write down mistakes across a 30-year Navy career and turn them into something useful for midshipmen, future officers, and families trying to understand the Naval Academy journey. The conversation doesn’t dodge the uncomfortable topics either, including how fatigue can wreck judgment and why alcohol mistakes can create consequences that last long after the night ends.If you found value here, subscribe, share this with a midshipman or parent, and leave a review or comment with the lesson you wish you could send to your younger self.Dr. John Cordle will be hosting a book signing on Saturday, April 18, from 12:00–2:00 PM at Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse.Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse 35 Maryland Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-626-2020Book orders are available at: www.stonetowerpress.com/shopAdditional details and updates can also be found on his LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cordlejpIf you want a slightly more polished/marketing-friendly version:Dr. John Cordle will be hosting a book signing on Saturday, April 18, from 12:00–2:00 PM at Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse in Annapolis.Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse35 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401410-626-2020You can order the book here: www.stonetowerpress.com/shopLearn more via LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cordlejpTo stay most up to date with Grant, Naval Academy updates, and real estate insights, follow him on LinkedInThe mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families.This podcast is independently produced and reflects the views and opinions of its creators. It is not officially affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the United States Naval Academy or its affiliates.Grant Vermeer your host is the person who started it all. He is the founder of Academy Insider and the host of The Academy Insider podcast. He was a recruited athlete which brought him to Annapolis where he was a four year member of the varsity basketball team. He was a cyber operations major and commissioned into the Cryptologic Warfare Community. He was stationed at Fort Meade and supported the Subsurface Direct Support mission.He separated from the Navy in 2023 and now owns The Vermeer Group, a residential real estate company that matches service academy families with trusted real estate teams all across the country. Text (650) 282-1964 with any real estate questions.We are here to be your guide through the USNA experience.Connect with Grant on LinkedinAcademy Insider WebsiteAcademy Insider Facebook PageIf you ar...
