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Camo & Crayons

Laurie Trahan Lafrenaye

Camo & Crayons Military Life & Family Support Podcast is a podcast dedicated to the military community—bringing together service members, veterans, military spouses, parents, and experts for honest conversations about military life. From boot camp to deployments, PCS moves to homecomings, we share real stories, practical advice, and the lessons learned along the way.

Whether you're preparing to send a loved one to basic training, navigating military life, or simply looking to better understand those who serve, Camo & Crayons offers encouragement, education, and a reminder that no military family walks this journey alone.

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9 episodes
weekly
Avg 48 min
English

Episodes 9

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S1 · E8
Wednesday · 1 hr 9 min
You Asked, They Answered: Live Q&A with Berek & Brian
This episode is all about YOU. Every question answered today came straight from the Camo & Crayons community — pulled directly from Laurie's Saturday and Sunday TikTok Lives, where followers ask their real, unfiltered questions about military life, love, and everything in between. To help tackle them, Laurie and Sherry brought in two special guests for a panel-style sit-down: Berek T. Krehmeier, a retired Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (20 years of service, now a Career Services Specialist & SkillBridge Coordinator), and Brian, "King of POGs", an active-duty Army Sergeant and Religious Affairs NCO marking his 10-year milestone. (Annika's sitting this one out — she just landed in Okinawa after 27 hours of travel!) One of the top questions submitted by followers: is getting married right out of boot camp a good idea or a bad one? Berek and Brian dig into it with total honesty, covering: 🗣️ Why communication — not timing — makes or breaks a military marriage 📋 Brian's "100 Questions" checklist he gives service members before they say "I do" ⚓ How certain MOSs (like Marine Security Guard) restrict spouses and communication 🏕️ What being a "Geo Bachelor" means and how deployments test relationships ❤️ Berek's candid take after three marriages on what he wishes he'd known If you submitted a question during one of Laurie's TikTok Lives, this could be the episode where you get your answer. Follow along for future Lives to get your own questions featured! Email: camoandcrayons@gmail.com Hosts: Laurie Trahan https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan Army Sherry https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd Guests: Berek T. Krehmeier (USMC, Ret.) Berek.krehmeier@yahoo.com Brian, King of POGs (US Army) billz84@gmail.com Military Spotlight: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_qH1ak2vl6Fy8MccvRSKJh0hzYgWiapBPkEgB3wzXLIobig/viewform
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S1 · E8
September 9 · 58 min
Navigating Change in Military Careers: Insights from Master Sergeant Vasquez
In this episode, we sit down with Master Sergeant Vladimiro “Isaac” Vasquez, an active-duty Army leader with nearly 18 years of service and more than a decade in Army retention and career counseling. We talk about Army careers, retention, leadership, mentorship, and helping Soldiers make informed decisions about their military careers and life after service. MSG Vasquez also shares lessons from his deployment to Afghanistan, years of leadership, and his upcoming transition toward retirement. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd https://www.tiktok.com/@overtimedadpartyof6 Military Spotlight https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_qH1ak2vl6Fy8MccvRSKJh0hzYgWiapBPkEgB3wzXLIobig/viewform
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S1 · E7
September 2 · 58 min
Understanding Mental Health Support for Military Families
In this episode of Camo & Crayons, we delve into the vital topic of mental health for active duty members and veterans, guided by Lori Cross, a mental health expert and the mother of a recruit at Paris Island. Lori shares her extensive experience working with military personnel and offers invaluable insights into the mental health landscape. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd Laurie Cross BSW, M.Ed, LPCC https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569069470624&rdid=NdWH71yIP7bejEVJ&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1DTkLZZs6f%2F# Clearer Minds Mental Health clearermindsmentalhealth@gmail.com Military Mental Health Support | Military OneSource https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health 988 Lifeline - If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health https://988lifeline.org/ Tricare Mental Health Care https://www.telemynd.com/tricare? Objective Zero - Free Mental Health APP https://www.objectivezero.org/
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S1 · E6
August 26 · 45 min
A Drill Sergeant on Preparing Your Recruit
In this episode, Laurie, Sherry, and Annika sit down with Sergeant First Class George — a 9.5-year Army veteran, tanker (19K), and former drill sergeant at Fort Benning — to pull back the curtain on basic training. SFC George breaks down the culture shock recruits face on day one, the personal and financial prep families should handle before shipping out, and why nicotine and social-media withdrawal hit "iPad kid" recruits harder than expected. The hosts also dig into the Army's evolving phone-call policy during training and what it means for parents craving connection with their soldier. A must-listen for any parent, spouse, or future recruit gearing up for basic. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd Spotlight https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_qH1ak2vl6Fy8MccvRSKJh0hzYgWiapBPkEgB3wzXLIobig/viewform?usp=publish-editor
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S1 · E5
August 19 · 37 min
Army Life and Recruiting
Laurie, Sherry, and Annika discuss SSG Butter’s experiences and time throughout his Army career. Discussing topics from leaving home, to being in the army, and now serving as an Army recruiter. Contact Camo & Crayons camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd Military Spotlight https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_qH1ak2vl6Fy8MccvRSKJh0hzYgWiapBPkEgB3wzXLIobig/viewform?usp=publish-editor ASVAP Study Guides https://a.co/d/0d5VP8tk https://www.purplemath.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@GrammarHero https://www.khanacademy.org/
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S1 · E4
August 12 · 42 min
From Farm Life to United States Marine Corps Infantry
Laurie, Sherry, and Annika discuss SSgt Hobaugh’s experiences and time throughout his Marine Corps career. Discussing topics from leaving home, to being in the infantry, and now serving as a Marine Corps recruiter. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan
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S1 · E3
August 3 · 44 min
A Life of Service within the United States Navy
Laurie, Sherry, and Annika discuss Skip’s very successful career in the United States Navy. They discuss his mentorship, career decisions, his advice to families and young individuals discussing joining the military, and his time involving joint operations. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd
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S1 · E2
August 3 · 41 min
A Woman Navigating A Military Career
Laurie, Sherry, and Annika discuss Annika’s career in the Marine Corps. They discuss any gender challenges she faced, what shaped her into the leader she became the longer she stayed in, and what advice she would give her younger self as well as young women trying to decide to take on the challenge of becoming a United States Marine. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd
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S1 · E1
July 31 · 43 min
Meet the Women Behind Camo & Crayons
Welcome to the very first episode of Camo & Crayons — a podcast built for military families, by military families. In this introduction episode, hosts Laurie, Sherry, and Annika sit down together for the first time on the mic to share who they are, why they decided to start this podcast, and what led them to create a space specifically for the military community. You'll get to know each host individually — their history with military life, their families, and the personal moments that made them realize this podcast needed to exist. They also give you a preview of what's ahead: the topics they'll be covering, the kind of guests they hope to bring on, and the tone you can expect episode after episode — honest, supportive, and never short on humor. If you're a military spouse, parent, service member, or just someone who wants a front-row seat to real conversations about real life — this is your welcome mat. Grab a coffee (or a juice box, let's be honest) and get to know the girls behind Camo & Crayons. 🎧 New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss one. camoandcrayons@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/laurietrahan https://linktr.ee/sherrydavis69.sd
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