Ruck Up Buttercup

Building Connection Through Military Spouse Social Club: Virtual Community, Book Club, and Belonging Host Ashley introduces the Ruck Up, Buttercup podcast and interviews Becca, a military spouse of about 10 years, about how community can “make or break” military spouse life through deployments, PCS moves, and constant change. Becca shares her rapid first PCS after marriage, the grief of losing not...

Are Military Kids Really Resilient? Back-to-School, PCS Transitions, and Supporting Military Children In a girl chat episode of the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast, the host welcomes Lara back and introduces D’Vaunee, discussing chaotic back-to-school experiences and the common belief that military kids are “resilient.” They question whether kids adapt because they are resilient or because they have no...

Beyond Belonging: Turning Your Military Life Into a Career Advantage What if your PCS moves, overseas assignments, volunteer roles, and constant transitions haven't only interrupted your career—but have actually been building it? In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, we sit down with educator, TAP facilitator, transition strategist, military spouse, and community builder Jenni Fajardo-Dobbs to ret...

Nicole Gebhardt: Turning Trauma into Purpose Through Sobriety, Support, and Community Trigger Warning: Episode will cover topics of loss, rape, addition and suicide. On A Ruck Up Buttercup Podcast, host Ashley interviews Nicole Gebhardt—2026 National Guard Military Spouse of the Year, best-selling author, mother, and recovering addict—who shares her “pain to purpose” journey and the importance of...

PCS Season Survival Tips with Isabel of Logas Mil Moves Host Ashley welcomes back Isabel, Army Military Spouse of the Year finalist and president of Logas to discuss community, networking, and practical PCS-season tips. Isabelle shares her work in military moving (Logas MilMoves), her Mexico-based Guerrero Leather venture, and volunteer efforts supporting a free clinic in Chihuahua providing catar...

The Heart of a Soldier’s Child: Celebrating Military Kids and Community with Sara Ashley returns to the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast after a break due to solo parenting and military life challenges and welcomes Sara, a Deployed Love volunteer and Fort Benning school liaison officer. Sarah shares her family’s connection to the military through her husband’s DoD fire service career and her experience t...

In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, Ashley sits down with Patty Sandoval, Navy military spouse, public health professional, mom of two, and Founder & CEO of HomeFront Haven. Inspired by her own military spouse journey, Patty is on a mission to change how we support military spouses by focusing on prevention, connection, and peer-based mental health support before crisis hits. Ashley and Patty di...

More Than a Milspouse: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Not Waiting with Moni Host Ashley returns to the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast after a break and welcomes back guest Moni, an Air Force spouse whose family recently transitioned out of the military and is navigating the learning curve of retirement and new insurance while enjoying reduced stress and more family stability. Moni shares her shift fr...

Building Community and Support with MilSpouse Fest Director Jessica Manfre Host Ashley welcomes Jessica Manfre to the “Ruck Up Buttercup” podcast to discuss supporting military spouses through connection, resources, and events like MilSpouse Fest. Jessica shares her background marked by early loss, meeting her Coast Guard husband young, experiencing isolation without a spouse network, and pursuing...

Our Military Kids: Activity Grants and Courageous Kids Recognition for Guard/Reserve Families During Month of the Military Child, the host of Ruck Up Buttercup interviews Kara, a retired Navy veteran, longtime military spouse, and executive director of Our Military Kids, about supporting children in deployed National Guard/Reserve families and families of combat-injured service members. Kara share...

Finding Community Through Spouse Associations at Fort Bragg In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the host talks with Renata, a military spouse and president of the Association of Bragg Spouses, about why building community is essential in military life and how spouse associations can help. Renata shares her late-in-life transition into military spouse life, joining the club soon after arriving at...

Spouse Chat: Veterans on Becoming Military Spouses, Deployments, and the Comparison Trap In this “Ruck Up Buttercup” spouse chat, Ashley hosts Lara and Grant, both veterans now military spouses, to discuss the shock of switching from service member to spouse, especially the loss of control during deployments, constant changes and extensions, and the value of understanding military language and rea...

In this episode, we talk with **Lydia Owiti-Otienoh** — a Kenyan immigrant, attorney, military spouse, and founder of the **Foreign Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN)**. Lydia shares her journey of moving to the United States while her husband was deployed and the challenges, she faced adjusting to military life as a foreign-born spouse. From culture shock and isolation to career disruption and i...

Style, Confidence, and Community: Practical Fashion Tips for Military Spouses with Laura The host of “Ruck Up Buttercup” rerecords an episode with Laura, a military spouse of 24.5 years nearing retirement, to discuss helping military spouses build confidence through personal style and community. Laura shares her story, her family’s Air Force spouse legacy, and how a difficult season in 2012 led he...

How to Use Space-A Flights: A Military Spouse Guide with Allison Beverly In this episode of the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast, hosts Sabrina and Ashley explore Space-A (Space Available) military flights as an affordable travel option for military families. They interview Alyson Beverly, a military spouse and homeschooling mom of six, who shares her family’s experience using Space-A flights to Europe t...

Navigating the Silent Ranks: A Military Spouse's Journey In this episode featuring a heartfelt chat between two military spouses, the discussion delves into the often overlooked challenges faced by military spouses, referred to as the 'silent ranks.' They cover the pressures of upholding a strong exterior, the struggles of balancing personal and family responsibilities, and the importance of self-...

Ruck Up Buttercup: Building Military Families with Julie Eshelman In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, Sabrina, and Ashley, dive deep into the challenges and victories of military family building with Julie Eshelman, a resilient military spouse and the creator of the Building Military Families Network. Julie shares her personal story of infertility, loss, and eventual triumph, offering practical...

Hot Mess Military Moments and How to Embrace Them In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Lara, Sabrina, and Ashley dive deep into the complexities of military life, focusing on PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves, housing issues, and the importance of advocacy. The discussion includes firsthand stories about the challenges of relocating, from damaged personal items to problematic housing...

Finding Community and Identity in Military Life In this episode of 'Ruck Up Buttercup,' Sabrina and Ashley host Portia, a seasoned military spouse, to discuss the challenges and rewards of military life. They explore the importance of building community, the benefits of volunteering, and how to make the most of military spouse programs and resources. The conversation highlights organizations like...

Embracing New Adventures: New Year, New Goals for Military Spouses In the latest episode of "Ruck Up Buttercup," the hosts celebrate the start of season six with exciting updates and plans for the year. Listeners learn about the decision to increase episode releases to three per month, offering more content and engagement opportunities. The conversation delves into the personal reflections and gro...

Reflecting on Season Five and Navigating Military Family Challenges In this final episode of season five of Ruck Up Buttercup, the hosts reflect on the past year's experiences and discuss the challenges faced by military families, including multiple relocations, financial strains, and the impact of government shutdowns. They share anecdotes from their own lives, touching on topics like their child...

Navigating Military Marriage: A Conversation with Ashley Ashcroft In this episode of 'Ruckup Buttercup,' the host Ashley discusses the complexities of military marriage with guest Ashley Ashcroft, a seasoned military spouse, accredited national educator, homeschool mom, and Down Syndrome advocate. Ashley Ashcroft shares her personal experiences, including facing unexpected trials and becoming a pu...

Spooky Season: Haunted Military Installations and Eerie Legends In this episode of Ruckup Buttercup, the hosts dive into the spooky vibes of October by discussing haunted military installations and eerie legends associated with them. Originally set to feature a guest, the episode continues with tales of paranormal encounters and personal stories from various military posts. The conversation covers...

Healing Heroes: How Soldier's Best Friend is Saving Lives with Service Dogs In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, we spotlight Soldier's Best Friend, an Arizona-based nonprofit that pairs veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI) with rescue dogs trained to be service dogs. Executive Director Mik Milem shares his passion for the organization and its mission, explaining the selection and t...

Empowering Military Families with Financial Literacy: Insights from Moneybox Academy In this episode of 'Ruck Up Buttercup,' Ashley and Sabrina are joined by financial expert Crystal McLean, founder of Moneybox Academy, to discuss the importance of financial literacy, especially within the military community. Crystal shares her personal journey that led to the creation of her intergenerational non...