Life of a Military Wife

Join me for a personal catch-up episode filled with adventure, real talk, and military life realities. After saving for years, I finally took the dream trip to Italy to explore my family roots — and I’m sharing all the highlights, heartfelt moments, and fun stories from reconnecting with my Italian heritage. I also open up about the latest curveballs Army life has thrown our way, upcoming changes,...

Ever wondered what “culture” really means and why it matters? In this fun and insightful episode, I chat with Alan Powell, a 20+ year State Department diplomat who served in seven countries. Alan shares engaging stories from his career — including working with the U.S. military in Japan — and breaks down military culture versus local cultures in eye-opening ways. Now through his new venture Cultur...

Discover the healing power of nature, horses, and community in this heartfelt episode with Mackenzie Fink, co-founder and Wellness Director of Heroes and Horses. This Montana nonprofit helps combat veterans rebuild through a transformative 41-day wilderness rite of passage that combines horsemanship, rugged backcountry challenges, nutrition, mindfulness, and real connection. What started as vetera...

In this special Memorial Day episode, we honor the remarkable women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II.  Becky and I sit down with a key contributor to the team behind a growing digital database dedicated to preserving the legacy of these trailblazing women. Together, we explore the powerful process of uncoveri...

Ever wondered what it’s really like moving back to the States after years overseas? In this relatable and honest conversation, fellow military YouTuber Erika joins me to share the raw realities of her recent PCS from overseas — after spending most of their marriage abroad. We talk about the unexpected complications, the massive mental load, emotional burnout, adjusting to life back in America, and...

Discover the full journey of military life through the eyes of a seasoned Army spouse. In this special Military Spouse Appreciation episode, Kacie opens up about her years supporting her husband through his Army career and their transition into veteran life. She shares what surprised her most, the unexpected benefits, the real challenges few talk about, the things civilians rarely understand, and...

Join us for a heartfelt and candid conversation with a fellow military spouse as we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Mother’s Day. She opens up about why her family chose military life, the constant moves, the real ups and downs, and the everyday struggles many families face. Most importantly, she shares how they built a strong support system that lasts through time and distance, and...

From pre-internet Army service and secret trips into East Germany to standing duty at the Pentagon on 9/11, U.S. Army veteran Sherry shares her remarkable career that spanned the 1980s through the early 2000s. She reveals what it was like to use classified internet systems before civilians ever saw the web, help keep critical lines of communication open during the 9/11 attacks, and serve during th...

From artillery guns to Special Forces linguist — one Iraq War veteran’s story of survival and gratitude. Randy shares his remarkable journey: starting as an artilleryman, transitioning to a linguist, and deploying multiple times while embedded with elite units. He opens up about the terrifying reality of living through convoy attacks, the split-second moments that made him realize how lucky he tru...

Want to uncover the real stories behind your military ancestors? Professional genealogist and Reclaim the Records director Alec Ferretti reveals the hidden goldmine of VA XC files for deceased veterans. He breaks down exactly what’s inside these rich records (detailed service history, medical info, pensions, and personal documents far beyond a DD-214), current access challenges, recent changes, an...

From Cold War watchtowers in West Germany to crafting epic interspecies sci-fi battles, U.S. Air Force veteran Raymond Feliciano joins us for an unforgettable interview you won’t want to miss! A proud Cold War-era Air Force and Air National Guard retiree, Raymond shares gripping stories from his military service alongside his inspiring journey as a sci-fi author. He wrote the thrilling Dolphin War...

Military spouses — let's flip the script! In this fun panel chat, Erika, Maria, and I share the things we genuinely LOVE about military life: unbreakable friendships that feel like family, wild global adventures, massive personal growth, and that deep pride in supporting our service members. We get so caught up in the hard stuff (moves, deployments, uncertainty) that we forget to celebrate — and p...

Discover how to financially prepare for incredible family vacations that create lasting memories—without breaking the bank! Welcome back retired Brigadier General Michael Meese, a leading expert in military personal finance and president of Armed Forces Mutual, for practical, actionable tips on smart budgeting, travel rewards, saving strategies, and planning affordable getaways. Tailored especiall...

The intensity skyrockets in Part 2 as I continue with @mrs.dadmanwalking55 and @DadmanWalking55 to uncover what unfolded after that fateful mission—picking up right where we left off with Forrest Brininstool's harrowing ordeal. We delve into the chaos of being shot down, the injuries he sustained, the grueling realities of survival and evasion in enemy territory, his time as a prisoner of war, and...

I'm thrilled to collaborate with YouTubers @mrs.dadmanwalking55 and @DadmanWalking55 as we dive deep into the WWII experiences of their ancestor, Forrest Brininstool, who served as top turret gunner and flight engineer on the famed B-24 Liberator "Wham! Bam! Thank You Ma'am." Since the family had few personal stories, I spent weeks researching to paint a vivid picture of his journey—from enlistmen...

Military marriage isn't all dress blues and homecoming hugs—it's real work, especially with deployments, PCS moves, and the daily grind. Join Maria, Erika, and me for a lively panel where we share our best-kept secrets to keeping military marriages rock-solid: long-distance date ideas that actually feel romantic (even over spotty WiFi), how listening and communication cut through the chaos, ways t...

Imagine sitting down with a 90-year-old female veteran who's lived through WWII as a child, watched her family serve on the front lines, joined the military herself inspired by their courage, and then navigated life as a military spouse—all with a twinkle in her eye. In this week's heartfelt episode, Carolyn takes us on a captivating journey through her incredible life, from wartime childhood memo...

Ever dreamed of serving your country and chasing Olympic gold? In this week's fun I sit down with a good friend to geek out about the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)—the incredible initiative that lets top-tier active-duty soldiers train full-time and compete for Team USA in the Olympics. We spotlight the six Army athletes heading to the Milan Winter Olympics 2026, breaking down who...

Military spouse life doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—and the stresses, transitions, and isolation can linger for years. I sit down with Jackie and Cathy, co-founders of Restored Heart Collective and wives of U.S. military veterans, to talk about the beautiful work they’re doing to change that. Their organization creates intentional retreats exclusively for spouses of veterans—spaces to conn...

Kick off 2026 with a fresh burst of energy in this fun, real-talk panel with military spouses Erika and Maria, where we spill our best secrets for planning, organization, and motivation to crush the new year. From setting realistic goals and simple productivity hacks that keep life on track (even when everything else isn't), we share relatable stories and tips that make big changes feel doable. Wh...

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of Life of a Military Wife! Today, we're thrilled to have George, a former U.S. Army veteran who's no stranger to our channel. You might remember him from his previous appearance where he shared his raw experiences in the military and the tough road to medical retirement. George served from 2012 to 2019 as a 15P Aviation Operations Specialist and briefly a...

Navigating the emotional rollercoaster of miscarriage, infertility, and adoption is tough for anyone, but add in military life's unique challenges—like deployments, PCS moves, and healthcare hurdles—and it can feel even more isolating. In this week’s heartfelt episode I sit down with fellow military spouse Leah to share our personal stories, the raw feelings that come with these experiences, and t...

Join us for a lively live stream book club diving into Jane Austen’s charming classic Persuasion—this time with a military spouse twist! We’re exploring how Austen weaves in naval officers and their families, bringing to life the real emotions, separations, long waits, and quiet resilience that military spouses know all too well, even 200 years later. From Captain Wentworth’s eight-year absence to...

As the clock ticks down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, pour yourself something sparkling and cozy up for my favorite episode of the year: the 2025 Book Wrap-Up! I didn’t quite hit my 100-book goal (life, picky taste, and a few DNFs got in the way), but the ones I finished? Absolute gold. This year I’m doing something new: breaking everything into clear categories (military life & memoirs, fait...

Moving coast-to-coast with kids while the military writes the orders? Yeah, we’ve all been there—and in this week’s panel, Maria, Erika, and I are spilling every single trick that actually worked for us. From surviving 3-day DITY drives with toddlers to turning a cross-country PCS into the ultimate family road-trip adventure, we cover the real-life hacks: hotel stops that feel like vacation, how t...