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 well-being of up to 3,200 guests and crew at a time. After coming ashore, she turned her attention to the mental health needs of maritime professionals, earning her master’s degree in advanced clinical social work from Columbia University and dedicating her career to trauma-informed care for those in our industry.

Now serving as Director of Maritime Mental Health Services at Port Medical Management in Houston, Pam also runs a private therapy practice and speaks internationally on maritime mental health advocacy, prevention, and intervention. She’s a clinical trauma psychotherapist, an employee assistance program (EAP) professional, and the spouse of an active sea captain, offering a well-rounded, deeply informed view on what mental health looks like for those who live and work at sea.

In this episode, Pam breaks down the “how-to” of therapy: What therapy really looks like. How to get started. How to find someone who gets your lifestyle. And why addressing mental health head-on is essential—not optional—for maritime professionals today.

Whether you’re struggling, seeking tools to stay grounded, or simply curious about how therapy works, this episode will help demystify the process and empower you to take the first step.

Listen now and learn how to navigate your own path to healing—on land or at sea.

You can find Pam on LinkedIn and at Pamkern.com

Don’t Miss an Episode!

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Women Offshore Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode of our relaunch! Did you know that every episode of our podcast is created and managed entirely in-house? Our dedicated team at Women Offshore pours their hearts into bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from the maritime industry. This work is made possible through the generous support of our community. Every donation—big or small—helps us amplify voices, create meaningful change, and support the maritime industry.

If you’d like to be part of this mission, click here to contribute: https://womenoffshore.org/donation/

Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.

Thank you for being part of the Women Offshore community!

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 protect the person who came forward. The message is clear: workplace safety is not just about hard hats and checklists. It is also about culture, leadership, and how we respond when something goes wrong.

What We Cover

• A firsthand account of escalating verbal misconduct over multiple hitches
• The emotional toll of being asked to remain quiet
• How unclear or delayed leadership responses can prolong harm
• The importance of early reporting and documentation
• The internal struggle of deciding whether to speak up

The episode also explores how difficult it can be to recognize when a line has been crossed, especially when harm comes in the form of repeated comments rather than a single, obvious incident. The individual in this story tried to handle things quietly, tried to avoid conflict, and tried to trust the system. But ultimately, it became clear that silence was not a solution.

Why This Matters

This story is not rare. It reflects the kind of slow, repeated harm that often goes unaddressed, not because no one cares, but because no one knows who should act.

Verbal and emotional misconduct can be harder to report, and even harder to respond to. People hesitate. Leaders assume someone else is handling it. And the result is silence when action is needed.

Leadership is not just a title. It is a responsibility. Delays, vague responses, or inaction can leave people feeling unsafe and unsupported.

This episode is a reminder that how we respond matters. The smallest action, listening, documenting, following up, can make all the difference.

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 retain her maiden name, emphasizing the importance of personal identity and the challenges of societal expectations.

Together, they unpack:

• The tradition of name changing—and why it still sticks
• The professional stakes of switching names mid-career
• The bureaucratic beast that is legal name change paperwork
• And a new twist: how proposed voting laws like the SAVE Act (2025) could make things even more complicated

The decision to change or retain a last name after marriage is deeply personal, with far-reaching professional and legal ramifications. Ally and Laura's candid discussion sheds light on the complexities involved and encourages women to make informed choices that align with their identities and aspirations.

What about you?

Have you changed your name, or chosen not to? Did it feel empowering, annoying, or a bit of both?

We want to hear from our global community. Drop us a message at hello@womenoffshore.org and tell us how name changes have impacted your life, especially if you're tuning in from outside the U.S. Your experience matters, and we may feature it in an upcoming episode.

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 initiatives.

So what exactly has changed—and what’s still allowed?

Women Offshore walks through the Department of Justice’s new enforcement role, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) March 2025 guidance, and how leaders can keep building opportunity-driven workplaces while staying aligned with the law.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the Department of Justice (DOJ) was instructed to do under Executive Order 14173
• What the new EEOC guidance says about hiring, training, and employee groups
• What merit-based hiring means
• How outreach, mentorship, and leadership development can (and should) continue

Why This Matters

The maritime workforce shortage isn’t going away. If anything, it's becoming more urgent. Offshore rigs, shipping companies, and maritime employers need to attract and retain talent across a broader spectrum to meet demand—and create resilient, future-ready teams.

Smart, sustainable DEI practices aren’t just about compliance. They are critical to solving the workforce crisis ahead.

Join Us at the Women Offshore Leadership Summit

📍 May 21, 2025 | Shell Woodcreek, Houston, TX

We’re tackling this head-on with our panel: “Leading Through Legal Shifts: What DEI Changes Mean for You.” Hear from top maritime lawyers about what Executive Order 14173, DOJ investigations, and EEOC guidance mean for your policies, practices, and people. Register today at WomenOffshore.org.

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 water?

The founder of Women Offshore shares a personal and professional reflection on the uncertainty created by the order, and the very real workforce consequences at stake—especially amid a growing mariner shortage.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Executive Order 14173 says and why it was issued
• How legal interpretations are shifting post–Supreme Court affirmative action ruling
• The real-time impact on DEI programs in the private sector
• How organizations are reacting (and what they’re reviewing)
• Why inclusive practices remain a strategic workforce imperative
• The role of community: crews, mentors, and companies still doing the work
• How Women Offshore is navigating this new landscape
• A preview of what’s ahead in Part II: DOJ & EEOC enforcement guidance

Why This Matters

The global maritime workforce is already stretched thin—with tens of thousands of officers needed in the coming years. Enrollment in U.S. academies is down. And women still make up a small percentage of seafarers worldwide.

Efforts like mentorship, inclusive leadership, and targeted support aren’t about politics. They’re about workforce sustainability.

Join Us at the Women Offshore Leadership Summit

📍 May 21, 2025 | Shell Woodcreek, Houston, TX
🎟️ Early bird registration through April 30

We’re tackling this topic head-on with our panel: “Leading Through Legal Shifts: What DEI Changes Mean for You.” Hear from top maritime lawyers about what Executive Order 14173 means for your policies, practices, and people. Register at WomenOffshore.org.

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 Yachtie Minds Matter™, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mental health therapy funding and resources for yacht crew and shoreside support staff. Join us as Captain Kelly shares her personal experiences, the challenges she has faced, and her mission to create a supportive environment for all seafarers.

Thank you to our 2025 Podcast Sponsor, The US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. With your unwavering support, we fulfill our mission!

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 offer meaningful help when they need it.

Check out her website, www.MaritimeMindset.com for more information