Military Life

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Air Force Spouse Donna about Defence life, living with a Disability and deciding not to post with her Husband.   Donna and I also talk about; Meeting each other, buying a house within 6 months and moving in together Being legally blind and recognised as a dependent with special needs The extra challenges Donna needs to consider when it comes to being legal...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Spouse and CEO of Frontline Yoga Rachael Day about the benefits of Yoga and why Veterans and Spouses should give it a go.   Rachael and I also talk about; How Frontline Yoga started and why they offer FREE classes for Veterans, their families and spouses The range of physical and mental health benefits practising Yoga can have especially for the defence co...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Army Spouse Emma about the first few years of Defence and Spouse life, working for yourself and connecting with your community.   Emma and I also talk about; Why she was the one to suggest an Army career to her partner Going from being a civilian couple to a defence couple Focusing on her studies and how Emma and her partner made it work Going from living...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains some discussion of suicide and mental health. If anything comes up for you and you would like to access support there are various options available. See below for contacts.   In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Army Spouse Anne about the unfolding and uncertain situation in Afghanistan. Anne and I also talk about; Supporting her husband through two depl...

In this week's Podcast episode, I talk with Kirsty a Lawyer, Mediator, Author and Divorce Coach about what happens when a Defence Couple decides to separate or get divorced. Kirsty and I also talk about; -How being a former Defence Partner herself allows her to understand the extra complexity that comes with breakdown of marriage when you are a Defence couple. -The difference between Mediation, Co...

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Military Wife Life Podcast! What a journey this podcast has taken me and all of you on. There is so much to celebrate this week- 2 years of the Podcast, 100 Episodes and 50,000 Downloads but what this week's milestones actually mean is that for 2 years this Podcast has been supporting me and has been supporting you. It means that we have all listened to 100 Epis...

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Military Wife Life Podcast! What a journey this podcast has taken me and all of you on. There is so much to celebrate this week- 2 years of the Podcast, 100 Episodes and 50,000 Downloads but what this week's milestones actually mean is that for 2 years this Podcast has been supporting me and has been supporting you. It means that we have all listened to 100 Epis...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Racheal Cosgrove who is a Defence Member and the Events Director for DEFGLIS the Defence LGBTI Information Service.   Racheal and I talk about; How and why DEFGLIS started Who DEFGLIS support and represent How DEFGLIS has changed and evolved over the years The impact DEFGLIS has had on the lives of LGBTI defence members and their families Why it is importa...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to new Navy Spouse Jeni about navigating defence life, the first posting and everything in-between.   Jeni and I also talk about; Being together 13 years before Defence came into the picture How looking for a career change led her Husband to the Navy Researching the impact Defence life would have on their family How hearing the experiences of other defence fa...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Executive Officer Leanne Kyle from the Defence Bank Foundation about the life-changing impact the Defence Community Dogs Program is having for the Dogs, Inmates, Veterans and their Families.   Leanne and I also talk about; The Defence Bank Foundation and why they decided to support the DCD program What the DCD program is and how it supports dogs, inmates a...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Veteran Matt and spouse Mel about their whirlwind romance, doing long distance, transitioning out of defence and future plans.   Matt and Mel also talk about; Meeting 1 week before Matt was due to post interstate Having big conversations and committing to long-distance 1 week in Making sacrifices, leaving family and moving to be with Matt  How Mel establis...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to RAAF Spouse Meagan about balancing her medical career with defence life, being values-driven and changing direction.   Meagan and I also talk about; Being high school sweethearts and both going their separate ways Reuniting years later while both visiting family Deciding to be together while living on opposite sides of the country Long-distance dating and...

In PART 2 of episode 94, I talk to Army spouse Kaz about her husband's shocking injury that led to his discharge, finding and receiving the right support and moving on. TRIGGER WARNING- There is some discussion of suicide in this episode. If this episode brings anything up for you please contact FREE ADF mental health service Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or in case of emergency call 000. Kaz and I al...

In PART 1 of episode 93, I talk to spouse Kaz about defence life, back to back deployments and her husband's shocking injury that led to his discharge. TRIGGER WARNING- There is some discussion of suicide in this episode. If this episode brings anything up for you please contact FREE ADF mental health service Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or in case of emergency call 000. Kaz and I also talk about; He...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Reserve Army spouse Kim about how Reserve life actually works.   Kim and I also talk about; Meeting her husband while he was a Navy recruit Living in the same posting location back to back Having the support and understanding of her military family The stress of her husband being medically discharged & finding a civilian job Why her husband decided to get...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Navy spouse Cheree about what it's like when your husband joins defence a little later in life.   Cheree and I also talk about; The first posting experience and her military member deploying within a few months. Building a support network and the lifelong friends she made on the first posting. The challenges she has faced while searching and securing emplo...

When the nominations for the MWL Lots of Love boxes land in my inbox it's hard for me not to get attached to those stories. Just reading about the connections and the amazing things spouses are doing that are prompting their friends and family to nominate them, is truly a privilege. This weeks podcast episode is about the stories behind the Lots of Love Box nominations. I talk to spouse Chantelle,...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to RAAF spouse Nicole about why a mindset shift has totally changed the way she experiences defence life.    Nicole and I also talk about; Meeting her now Husband while he was studying at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Realising that the member doesn't just sign up for a job but a lifestyle Moving to Newcastle for her husbands first posting and n...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to NSW Legacy President Nikki Hollis about how Legacy started, what they're about and who they support.   Nikki and I also talk about; How a dependant of an ADF member or Veteran can access support Why a dependant can put their hand up for support at anytime What you can access support through Legacy for and the process Breaking down the misconception that Le...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Amanda about why she doesn't allow her Army Husbands job to control her life.   Amanda and I also talk about; Not really knowing, in the beginning, what it meant to be an Army spouse Why she was hesitant to even acknowledge she was a spouse  Moving in together and experiencing a deployment 6 months into the relationship A horrible experience with an...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to RAAF spouse Katie about being posted to Tindal, the location at the bottom of her preference sheet.    Katie and I also talk about; Having no knowledge of defence life and going into the relationship blind Moving out of home in NSW to relocating to WA on her first posting with her military member Finding her feet in WA and why it is where Katie and her Hus...

Today's podcast episode is on a topic that isn't often spoken about- Miscarriage. 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage. The vast majority of miscarriages will happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, often at a time when the exciting and happy news has only been shared with a few friends and family members if any. It can be a lonely time. There is often no answers as to why you experience...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Belinda Wilson, CEO of Veteran and Family financial support organisation Bravery Trust.    Belinda and I talk about; The support Bravery Trust offer Veterans who have a physical injury or mental illness as a result of their service Why Bravery Trust offers financial support to Veterans and their families during and after their service When a Veteran or Spo...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Army couple Julia and Jai about why good communication is key.   We also talk about; what happened when they met each other just 10 days before Jai was due to deploy some of the things a defence member thinks about before getting into a relationship how they used email to build a strong foundation before Jai returned from deployment  an unexpected injury f...

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Kim about being adaptable and being ok with "going with the flow."   Kim and I also talk about; what happens when defence suddenly becomes part of your plan a not-so-great first move and why Kim didn't let it set the tone for spouse life her husband deploying a month into their first posting how Kim used that first deployment to establish a friend n...