Our very own Brooke Keating and our dear friend, Tara Crenshaw, have a new podcast named Gold Stars and Stripes! The name Gold Stars and Stripes originated from their personal history as military daughters and eventually military spouses. Tara and Brooke’s fathers graduated together in the class of ’75 at the United States Naval Academy and each served 25 + year careers in the US Navy. The inspiration for their podcast derives from the daily American military newspaper titled, “Stars and Stripes” that is currently distributed worldwide and is fondly remembered from their childhood. Tara and Brooke believe the combination of the Gold Star wife, the Blue Star wife and all American patriots was summed up beautifully by saying Gold Star and Stripes. Not only military families, Gold Star families, but all Americans can find their place within the Gold Stars and Stripes Podcast.
Both women have endured hardships in their lives that inspired them to create their podcast. Gold Stars and Stripes brings awareness to the challenges and nuances of military life as a spouse as well as everyday challenges as a civilian spouse. Brooke’s late husband, Charlie, was killed in action on May 3, 2016 in Iraq, and Tara’s husband was badly injured while deployed in Afghanistan. Charlie and Dan served together on SEAL Team 3 and also deployed together to Afghanistan in 2012. They were close friends for many years.
Currently, Brooke is the VP of The C4 Foundation that provides neuroscience based programs to strengthen and preserve Navy SEAL families at the C4 Ranch in San Diego, and Tara is highly involved in the political world alongside her husband, continuing to serve their fellow Americans. Their FIRST podcast will publish on Thursday the 4th of November, and it can be found on Spotify and Apple podcasts.
