They told Erin Willoby that women didn’t usually make it through EOD training. Her response? Challenge accepted.

On this episode of The Toosday Crüe, we welcome U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal veteran Erin Willoby for a powerful conversation about EOD, military service, unexpected adversity, caregiving, art, resilience, and finding a new mission when life changes the plan.

Erin joined the U.S. Air Force in 2002 and graduated from NAVSCOLEOD at Eglin AFB in 2003, earning her place in one of the military’s most demanding career fields. But after arriving at Eielson AFB in Alaska, a returning battle with asthma ultimately brought her active EOD career to an unexpected end.

That was only the beginning of the story.

Years later, Erin’s husband and fellow EOD Tech, Stephen Willoby, suffered a devastating diving accident that left him a C6 incomplete quadriplegic. In the middle of a marriage that had already been pushed to its limits, Erin and Stephen found their way back to one another, remarried from his hospital bed, and began rebuilding an entirely different life together.

Nearly two decades later, Erin is Stephen’s full-time caregiver—but their story is about far more than survival.

It’s also about purpose.

A lifelong artist, Erin transformed her creativity and connection to the EOD community into Buffalo Gal’s Co., creating artwork and products inspired by EOD, military, first responder, public safety bomb squad, firefighter, motorcycle, and service communities.

What began as art became another way to serve.

🔥 In this conversation, we’ll dive into:

What it takes to make it through Air Force EOD training
Being a woman entering the EOD career field in the early 2000s
The heartbreaking decision to leave military service
How the EOD community became family
Stephen’s life-changing accident and their road back together
Marriage, caregiving, adaptation, and resilience
How Erin used art as therapy and rediscovered purpose
The story behind Buffalo Gal’s Co.
Why her mission today is simple: serve those who serve others

This is a story about what happens when the mission you planned disappears—and you decide to build a new one.

👉 Learn more about Erin and Buffalo Gal’s Co.:
www.buffalogalsco.com

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