Our Navy Life

PCS Season 2026: What Military Families Need to Know—and the Best Tips We've Learned Along the Way PCS season is here—and with it comes moving checklists, travel plans, housing searches, reimbursement questions, and more than a little chaos. In this episode, Teal is joined by fellow Navy spouse and Naval Services FamilyLine Board Member Jessica Schecter for a conversation about the latest PCS...

S8 E3: Data, Advocacy & Real Support: Inside MFAN with CEO Shannon Razsadin Who is truly speaking up for military families — and making sure their experiences lead to real change? In this episode, Teal sits down with Navy spouse and CEO Shannon Razsadin to explore the impactful work of the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) . From powerful data collection to direct, boots-on-the-ground su...

25 Years of COMPASS: Navigating Navy Life with Confidence with NS FamilyLine COMPASS Director Susan Fox If you’ve ever wondered who you’re supposed to call, ask, or trust when Navy life feels overwhelming — this episode is for you. In this episode of Our Navy Life , host Teal Yost sits down with Susan Fox, Director of the COMPASS program at Naval Services FamilyLine, to celebrate the 25th annivers...

What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking with NYT Bestselling Author & Navy Veteran Spouse Caroline Chambers If you’ve ever stood in front of the fridge after a long Navy day thinking, “I cannot make one more decision,” this episode is for you. In this episode of Our Navy Life , host Teal Yost sits down with Caroline Chambers — New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer,...

Holidays in the Navy don’t always look like the ones we grew up with. Instead of gathering around familiar tables, many military families find themselves creating new traditions thousands of miles from “home.” In this episode, Teal Yost and guest co-host Kathryn Butler dive into what makes OCONUS holiday seasons both challenging and deeply meaningful. From KFC Christmas dinners in Japan, to Le Bef...

As Veterans Day approaches, many of us see the familiar wave of “thank yous” in the form of discounts and freebies. But what if that appreciation didn’t stop on November 11th? In this episode, host Teal Yost sits down with Navy veteran and active-duty Navy spouse Grant Vermeer to talk about Valor , a new app making military discounts automatic — no ID, no awkward ask, and no forgetting to mention...

This fall marks two incredible milestones: the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday and Naval Services Familyline’s 60th anniversary. For six decades, Familyline has been a trusted source of education, mentorship, and resources for Navy spouses and families navigating the challenges of military life. In this episode of Our Navy Life , Navy spouse and host Teal Yost sits down with Nancy Ruttenberg, the newly...

Creating Community Everywhere: Blue Star Families’ Kathy Roth-Douquet on Welcome Week, the Blue Star Neighborhood & Military Life Show Notes Moving to a new duty station can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode of Our Navy Life , host Teal Yost , a Navy spouse of 10 years, chats with Kathy Roth-Douquet , Marine veteran spouse and Co-Founder & CEO of Blue Sta...

Supporting Our Sea Services and Families: A Conversation with Former MCPON and Current Navy League CEO Mike Stevens  In this episode, we sit down with Mike Stevens—former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) and current CEO of the Navy League of the United States. Mike shares insights from his time as the Navy’s senior enlisted leader and reflects on his transition into leading the Navy...

Show Notes: In this episode Corie Weathers, licensed counselor, author, and military spouse, discusses the unique dynamics of military marriages. Drawing from her experience working with service members and their families, Corie offers insight into the emotional landscape of deployment, reintegration, and maintaining connection across long distances and high-stress environments. She also discusses...

S6 E5: Preparing for Your PCS: Everything You Need to Know PCS Season is upon us - and with it, the stress and anxiety that accompanies moving.  In this episode, Dannielle Niewald joins us to break down the key differences between the legacy DPS system and the new Global Household Goods Contract (GHC). We’re talking rates, timelines, communication gaps, and the real-world impacts of these changes...

This episode features Ryan Manion, CEO of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), discussing the organization’s mission to support veterans and families of the fallen. Ryan shares the story of her brother, 1st Lt. Travis Manion, and how his legacy inspired TMF’s commitment to character, leadership, and service. Topics include TMF’s programs like The Honor Project and Character Does Matter, among other...

Celebrating Our Military Spouses: Featuring AFI’s Military Spouse of the Year Navy Branch Winners Angela Litteral and Jennifer Barnhill Armed Forces Insurance recognizes the work of military spouses from all service branches, with nominations held in December each year. From January through March, these amazing men and women are recognized for their dedication to helping military families thrive....

Strengthening Connections: How United Through Reading Helps Military Families Thrive United Through Reading (UTR) is a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening military families’ emotional bonds, literacy, and general well-being through the power of reading. Penney Letrud-Samons, United Through Reading’s Director of Special Programs, discusses how the organization’s free storytime video recor...

Your Health, Your Benefits: Exploring the New HCFSA Initiative Show Notes: Show Notes: Ron Garner, Assistant Director of Military Compensation Policy, explains the DOD’s new Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCSFA) initiative. March 3rd - 31st is the first opportunity for eligible members of the uniformed services to enroll in an HCFSA during this special enrollment period.  Show Links: Offic...

Holiday Shop with Spouse-ly featuring Monica Fullerton Spouse-ly is an online marketplace powered by military and first responder vendors. Founder Monica Fullerton talks about how she created this company, why it's important to create employment opportunities for military spouses, and how to shop small to make a big impact. Get some holiday shopping inspiration (along with retirements, homecomings...

A New Era for EFMP: What’s Changing for Military Families Michelle Norman, the Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, a non-profit organization focused on educating, advising and advocating for exceptional military families and their education, discusses the changes to EFMP. She discusses what recently changed and what's coming down the pipeline, focusing on the elimination of EFMP...

Show Notes: Former VA Benefit Advisor, Kathy Gonzales, shares what to expect during, and how best to prepare for, the transition-retirement process. She discusses everything from disability and education benefits, to financial planning, to TAP classes, and covers all the best resources to utilize to make the transition to civilian life as smooth as possible.  Show Links: Online TAP Courses and Mil...

Sarah Hoopengardner and her family were en route to a holiday vacation when they received a call that a car had run into their home. That accident displaced them for six months, and they were forced to move from hotel to hotel, navigate the complex insurance and legal systems, and deal with the emotional toll of the accident. Sarah shares what she learned from her experience, and USNR Chaplain Sam...

Operation Homefront’s Ebony Strange discusses the many financial resources, family events, and special programing that Operation Homefront offers for military families, including their Holiday Meals for the Military Program. Lindsay Carstairs, winner of the Operation Homefront’s 2024  Navy Military Child of the Year Award, shares her experience as a military child and this incredible award opportu...

S5 E1: Celebrating our CPO Selectees! Show Notes: Mike Stevens, CEO of the Navy League of the United States and Evelyn Honea, wife of MCPON James Honea discuss why selecting as a CPO is such a major career milestone, and talk about how family members can support their selectees and what to expect during Chief season.  Show Links: Navy League of the United States Show Takeaways:  Being selected as...

Ask an Ombudsman: How Your Command Ombudsman Serves to Support You Show Notes: Ombudsmen are Navy spouse volunteers who serve as a crucial communication link between a command and command families, and are trained in information and resources to support Navy families. In this episode we speak with one of the Navy’s two Ombudsmen-At-Large, Junifer Thomas, about the roles and responsibilities of an...

 Better Together: Naval Services FamilyLine and Blue Star Families Join Forces Blue Star Families is an organization founded in 2009 to empower military families as they serve by connecting them with their neighbors to create supportive communities. Their platform, The Neighborhood, is a virtual community designed to help military families thrive by providing them with local resources, events, and...

  Hiring Our Heroes is a 501(c)(3) that provides the military-connected community with workforce development. On this episode, Jenny Lynn Stroup, Deputy Director of Military Spouse Programs  and Angie Hood, Manager of the Military Spouse Programs team, discuss programs and initiatives developed specifically for military spouses.  Show Links: Hiring Our Heroes Register for Amplify Apply for the Mil...

Unsung Heroes: The League of Wives and the Power of Military Spouse Changemakers The League of Wives was a group of brave, determined military wives who raised awareness and demanded humane treatment for POWs during the Vietnam War. These remarkable women transformed the role of the military spouse, and paved the way for future generations of spouses to become changemakers and advocates.  In this...