Ruck Up Buttercup

Navigating Military Spouse Life with Anne Kramer In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, host Sabrina is joined by guest Anne Kramer, author of 'You Belong,' a book for US military spouses. Anne shares her experiences of serving in the Army, transitioning to life as a military spouse, and her current career as a social worker and therapist for veterans. The discussion covers various challenges milit...

Exploring Military Life: Space Force Officer and Author Kelly Cagiano In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts engage with Kelly Caggiano-Hollyfield, an officer in the Space Force and author of the children's book 'My Mommy's in the Military.' Kelly shares her transition from the Air Force to the Space Force, operational experiences, and cultural differences between branches. The discussion cov...

Managing Grief and Change in Military Life: A Raw Discussion In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the hosts engage in an honest and heartfelt conversation about the hardships faced by military families, particularly focusing on grief and loss. They discuss the inevitability of tough times, the importance of allowing oneself to feel emotions, and practical strategies for coping. The episode also c...

Supporting Military Families Through Dogs on Deployment: An Interview with Alyssa Johnson In this episode of RUP Buttercup, hosts chat with Alyssa Johnson, founder of Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit organization supporting military families by providing resources and fostering programs for their pets. Alyssa shares her personal military experience as a Marine Corps pilot, her journey in creating t...

Supporting Geo-Batching Military Families: Introducing Family and Flight with Chelsea In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the hosts interview Chelsea, the founder of the nonprofit organization Family and Flight. Chelsea discusses the mission of her organization, which aims to provide emotional and financial support to military families who are geo-batching—living in different states due to servi...

Embrace the Adventure: Military Life and Traveling In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the discussion centers around travel and adventure opportunities that come with military life. Hosts Ashley and Laura share their experiences and tips on making the most of living in various locations due to frequent relocations. They emphasize embracing new duty stations and exploring local attractions rather...

USO Insights and Military Spouse Support: A Conversation with Nicole Vogel In this episode of 'Ruckup Buttercup,' Ashley welcomes Nicole Vogel, the Senior Program Manager for the USO and a military spouse. Nicole shares her 16-year journey with the USO, starting from her initial experience at Ramstein, Germany. They discuss various USO programs designed to support military families and spouses, in...

Standing Silently Strong: Embracing the Military Spouse Journey with Ariana In this heartfelt episode of RUP Buttercup, hosts welcome guest Ariana to discuss the unique challenges and rewarding experiences of military life. They delve into the concept of 'standing silently strong,' a term that embodies the quiet resilience of military spouses. Ariana shares her 10-year journey with her Air Force h...

Balancing the Seven Dimensions of Wellness In this episode of 'Ruck Up Buttercup,' hosts Ashley, Sabrina and Lara discuss the importance of the seven dimensions of wellness: mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, and vocational. They explore how these aspects interconnect and affect overall health and well-being. The conversation highlights personal experiences and practica...

Navigating Military Life: Insights from a Spouse and Children's Author In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Ashley and Caila are joined by guest Valerie, a military spouse and children's book author. Valerie shares her 14-year journey across various military branches, from the Army Reserves to the Coast Guard, and the unique experiences each has brought. She discusses the challenges and adv...

Navigating Social Media and OPSEC as a Military Spouse In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Ashley and Sabrina delve into the complexities of using social media as a military spouse. They discuss the importance of Operational Security (OPSEC) and Personal Security (PERSEC) and the potential risks of oversharing online. The conversation covers the dynamics within military spouse Facebook gro...

Protecting Military Families' Moving Entitlements: The PPM Petition In this episode, Isabel from LOGSA Mil Moves discusses the origins and goals of her organization, highlighting the veteran background of its founders and their focus on providing better moving services for military families. The conversation delves into the adjustments and evolving services LOGSA has offered, including the signifi...

Empowering Military Spouses with Remote Work Opportunities In this episode of the podcast, the hosts welcome Kate, the Community Programs Manager at Instant Teams, an eight-year-old company founded by military spouses to provide remote work opportunities for fellow military spouses. Kate discusses how Instant Teams assists military spouses in finding a variety of remote jobs from entry-level to ex...

Embracing Change: New Beginnings, Resilience, and Navigating Military Life In this episode of 'Ruck Up Buttercup', the hosts celebrate the beginning of their fifth season and introduce Kayla as their new co-host. They discuss the complexities of military life, including upcoming PCS moves, setting realistic goals, and finding positivity amid challenges. The conversation touches on embracing the un...

Finale Reflections and New Beginnings: Season Wrap-Up In this heartfelt final episode of the season, the hosts of the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast reflect on their successful four-year journey. They discuss the growth they've experienced, the consistency achieved this year, and exciting plans for next year, including potentially moving to weekly episodes with an expanded team. They emphasize the impo...

Budget-Friendly Holiday Tips for Military Families In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the hosts discuss their holiday plans, including traveling to visit family, wrapping presents early, and managing holiday activities while living in different locations. They share personal stories and tips on how to keep the holiday season affordable, such as using discount apps, taking advantage of sales, ut...

In this episode, we are joined by Caila Holm, a well-known Military Family Advocate from TikTok. Caila shares her extensive 11-year journey as a military spouse and her career dedicated to supporting military families through various roles, including work with Army Community Services, the American Red Cross, and as a social worker. Caila discusses the challenges military families face, especially...

Honoring Heroes: Wreaths Across America and the Military Community In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Ashley and Lara welcome Jeff Pierce from Wreaths Across America to discuss their extensive mission to honor veterans and support military families. Key topics include the emotional and logistical impact of wreath-laying ceremonies, community involvement, and various initiatives like Wreat...

Thriving Through Deployment: Insights and Support for Military Families This engaging episode explores strategies and support systems for military families navigating the complexities of deployment. Hosts Ashley and her co-host provide a comprehensive four-step guide for preparing, managing, maintaining communication, and reintegrating post-deployment. They emphasize the importance of practical me...

Navigating Military Life with Brittany: TikTok, Transitions, and Triumphs In this episode, our hosts welcome Brittany, a well-known face in the military community on TikTok. Brittany shares her journey through various military postings, the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life, and the unique struggles military families face. She also discusses her educational path towards becoming a men...

Balancing Life and Military: Summer, Parenting, and Community Insights In this episode of 'Ruck Up Buttercup', the hosts provide life updates and discuss the multifaceted challenges of military family life. They talk about parenting over the summer, setting boundaries, and the emotional strain of having a spouse away on duty. With candid insights into healthcare decisions involving VA insurance an...

Rediscovering Confidence and Style Post-Motherhood with Heather Mitchell In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Ashley and Sabrina are joined by Heather Mitchell, a style therapist and body love yoga coach. They explore the journey of embracing personal style and body shapes after motherhood, transitioning from their twenties' fashion to a mom-centered wardrobe. Heather shares valuable insigh...

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Military Life In this episode of 'Ruck up Buttercup,' hosts Sabrina Ashley and Lara discuss imposter syndrome openly, focusing on its prevalence among women and their personal experiences. They highlight the societal pressures and the challenges of balancing multiple roles as military spouses, entrepreneurs, and mothers. The conversation delves into the struggles sp...

Exploring Reading and Book Clubs with Author Riva Frye In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, hosts Sabrina Johannes and Ashley Brown discuss their favorite topic—books! They are joined by Riva Frye, a military spouse, veteran, and author of 'If Love Could Kill'. The episode highlights Riva's journey to becoming an author and announces her book as the August pick for their book club. The conversati...

Community, Support, and the Spirit of Volunteering: Insights from Deployed Love In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, we explore the heartwarming world of 'Deployed Love' with guests Ashley Brown and Ashley Mercado. As military spouses and coordinators for the organization, they share their personal journeys and discuss the vital role of community and support for military families. The Ashleys pro...