Welcome back to The Women in the Arena Podcast! Today’s episode is special for so many reasons — it marks our very first book club edition, featuring a conversation with Lena Andrews, author of Valiant Women. In this powerful book, Lena brings to life the incredible and often overlooked stories of American women who served during World War II, highlighting their courage, resilience, and critical roles in the war effort.

Over the past month, a group of our listeners read along, and thanks to Lena’s generosity, many of you received donated copies of Valiant Women and submitted thoughtful questions that helped shape today’s conversation.

Lena came to our community through a former guest — a perfect example of the authentic connections being built here at Iron Butterfly Media. With her background as an intelligence analyst, paired with her research and storytelling of women veterans, Lena’s work reflects everything we stand for. She’s a passionate writer doing the essential work of preserving these stories — work that feels more important now than ever.

A huge thank you to everyone who followed along as this episode came together. I had so much fun collaborating with Lena — I could have easily spent hours more talking with her about her research process and the inspiration behind this book. She is truly a remarkable woman. We hope this is just the first of many book club episodes, creating even more ways to connect, engage, and grow this incredible community.

As always, be sure to like, follow, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platforms and social media so you don’t miss what’s coming next!

Major Samantha Arrington Sliney is an accomplished legal professional and Air National Guard JAG officer with over a decade of experience spanning criminal law, administrative law, and national security. Her career has been defined by a passion for advocacy and impactful policy reform, with a focus on removing systemic barriers affecting servicewomen, military families, and Department of Defense readiness. She has led high-level legal research, barrier analysis, and policy campaigns, engaging directly with Congress, nonprofits, and DoD leadership to drive lasting legislative and cultural change. In this episode of The Women in the Arena podcast, we dive into the history and purpose of the Women, Peace, and Security initiative, including recent claims by Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth that he would dismantle the program within the DoD. We explore the legality of such claims, the missed opportunities tied to the initiative’s intent, and end with a call to action- discussing how to remain tactful and composed during politically charged times, and recognizing that we are often more united than we realize.

In this episode of The Women in the Arena Podcast, we’re joined by Captain Riley Tejcek, a United States Marine Corps officer, Team USA bobsled pilot, author, and all-around force of nature. Riley shares her incredible journey from growing up in Carmel, Indiana, to playing Division I college softball at George Washington University, serving in the Marine Corps, and now competing on the world stage as an Olympic hopeful in the sport of bobsled. Riley is proving that women belong in every arena- whether it’s the military, elite athletics, or beyond.

We dive into the realities of balancing active-duty military service with training and competing as a high-performance athlete, the challenges of being part of an unfunded Olympic sport, and the purpose that drives her every day. Riley opens up about her passion for representation, her faith, and her desire to inspire others by living boldly and pursuing what may seem impossible. She’s also a published children’s book author, former Ms. Military titleholder, and keynote speaker- using every platform she’s earned to advocate for women in service and sport.

This conversation is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when resilience, discipline, and passion collide. Tune in to hear Riley’s story, and learn how you can support her journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy by joining #TeamTejcek.

Follow Riley on Instagram @riley.tejcek and learn more about how to support her bobsled career through sponsorship or donation.