Episode 88

full
Published on:

10th Jun 2026

Marine Combat Correspondent, Navy Officer, and the Mission to Tell Stories That Matter with Amy Forsythe

Summary:

What does it mean to stand at the edge of history and be trusted to tell the story?

In this powerful episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Captain Kim sits down with Amy Forsythe, a Marine veteran and retired Navy Lieutenant Commander with more than 30 years of service. Amy shares how growing up in Northern California, playing sports, and hearing her family’s military stories led her to the Marine Corps. From Guantanamo Bay to Iraq and Afghanistan, Amy used her camera, voice, and heart to document service, crisis, sacrifice, and the people behind the mission. She also shares the story behind her book Heroes Live Here, the launch of MediaBridge.io, and why women veterans must keep using their voices with purpose.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Amy Forsythe’s childhood in Northern California
  • Her family’s military legacy
  • Why she chose the Marine Corps
  • Becoming a Marine combat correspondent
  • Her first major humanitarian mission in Guantanamo Bay
  • Deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq
  • The responsibility of telling military stories accurately
  • Transitioning from Marine enlisted service to Navy public affairs officer
  • Writing Heroes Live Here to honor fallen Marines
  • Launching MediaBridge.io to connect experts with media opportunities
  • Why women veterans need to share their stories
  • Amy’s advice to service members, veterans, and military women

Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • “If I could tell stories, bridge the gap between the civilian community and the military, that would be ideal.” Amy Forsythe on choosing combat correspondence [00:12:26]
  • “A page or two and a story about one Marine can make a big difference.” Amy Forsythe on honoring Gold Star families through Heroes Live Here [00:31:15]
  • “Don’t take no for an answer. If you want something, go for it.” Amy Forsythe’s advice to women in and out of uniform [00:42:00]
  • “Your message could be someone else’s lifeline.” Amy Forsythe on the power of sharing your story [00:46:13]

Episode highlights:

  • 00:01:59 - Meet Amy Forsythe and her 30-year military career
  • 00:03:50 - Growing up in Santa Rosa, California
  • 00:07:45 - Why Amy chose the Marine Corps
  • 00:11:47 - Becoming a combat correspondent
  • 00:13:33 - Guantanamo Bay and Amy’s first humanitarian mission
  • 00:15:13 - Deploying to Afghanistan after 9/11
  • 00:20:11 - Lessons that carried into Iraq and Afghanistan
  • 00:23:39 - Moving from the Marine Corps to the Navy
  • 00:24:15 - Becoming a Navy public affairs officer
  • 00:30:18 - The story behind Heroes Live Here
  • 00:35:17 - Launching MediaBridge.io
  • 00:37:33 - Volunteering and supporting the veteran community
  • 00:39:35 - Encouraging women veterans to speak, write, and share
  • 00:42:00 - Amy’s advice: be a resource and keep going
  • 00:46:03 - Why your message can be someone’s lifeline

About Amy:

Amy Forsythe is a Marine veteran, retired Navy Lieutenant Commander, award-winning journalist, author, and military storyteller. Over more than 30 years of service, she worked as a Marine combat correspondent and Navy public affairs officer, documenting humanitarian missions, combat operations, and global military work. She deployed to places including Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Iraq, Romania, Poland, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Amy is the author of Heroes Live Here, a tribute to the memorials and fallen Marines of Camp Pendleton, and the founder of MediaBridge.io, a platform built to connect trusted voices with media opportunities.

Connect + Learn More

  • Website: www.mediabridge.io
  • Book: Heroes Live Here www.heroeslivehere.net
  • Instagram: http://instagram.com/amyforsythe760
  • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amyforsythe
  • LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/AmyForsythe

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About the Podcast

Dog Tag Diaries
Sharing True Stories from Women in the Military
Dog Tag Diaries provides a platform for military women to tell their stories and speak their truths. We are not only raising awareness about military trauma, and mental health but fostering a supportive community where women can find strength and inspiration in each other's stories. It's an informative way to reduce stigma and promote healing through open dialogue and exploration of therapeutic modalities. Our goal is to increase connections among women to offer empowerment, encouragement, and a sense of belonging as we each navigate the unique challenges and experiences faced by women in the military.
Each week we’ll invite a woman who has served in the military to share her experience and how it has impacted her, or we will bring in a guest who can speak about the healing abilities of specific therapeutic methods. This is a podcast you don’t want to miss.

About your hosts

kimberly Liszka

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Kim served in the United States Army/Reserves as a Combat Medic, Combat Nurse, Flight Nurse Instructor and one of the Top Female athletes in the Army.

Kim worked 20+ years as an ER nurse and decided to explore the world as a travel nurse. She's an Advanced Wilderness Expedition Provider and Chief Medical Officer for numerous endurance/survival expeditions in different countries.

Kim has a son, Jace and a daughter in law, Sammy and 2 grand animals, Joey & Bear. Her dog Camo is her best buddy. Camo is the sweetest yellow Labrador Retriever to walk this earth. He loves licking snow, riding the ocean waves, visiting carnivore food trucks and loves belly rubs and treats.

Fun Facts: Kim's lived in the Reality TV World! Fear Factor, American Ninja Warrior-Military Edition, American Tarzan, Spartan Namibia and more to come!

Dakota Olson-Harris

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Dakota is currently serving in the Army National Guard and has been for the past 15 years. She enlisted as a tank mechanic then earned her commission as a Combat Engineer Officer. She has two deployments, Iraq and United Arab Emirates.

On the civilian side Dakota works as a counselor providing readjustment counseling for Veterans, current service members, and their families.

Dakota is a wife and a bonus mom to four kiddos. They have recently added to their family with a baby girl, totaling five kids. They also have two dogs, Paco and Elsa.

Her family loves to go on adventures whether it's walks, hiking, camping, or just going on a road trip to visit family.