Episode 83: How a Pageant Queen and Guard Spouse Helps Others Living With Grief
After the death of her sister, Air National Guard spouse Laura Obier focused on taking care of her family — barely allowing herself to grieve. Years later, she's now a pageant queen and is using her platform to support and advocate for others who find themselves in similar situations.
Connect with Laura Obier on Facebook. Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Episode 82: What the Military’s Controversial Vaccine Mandate Means for Families
The military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate is stirring controversy. Military spouses share their reactions to the news, and a journalist breaks down the specifics of the mandate, including the consequences for troops who don't comply and possible future implications for families.
Follow Scott Maucione on Twitter. Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Episode 81: Why DoD Wants to Hear from Military Spouses
For the first time ever, all spouses of active-duty service members can share their opinions on military life in the Department of Defense's biennial survey. Find out why that's important and what to expect.
To take the DoD survey, click here.
Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Episode 80: A Mom of 4 Service Members Reflects on 9/11
A military daughter, spouse and mom shares her memories of Sept. 11, 2001, and the ripple effects it's had on her family in the two decades since — including her own choice to teach in a war zone. Plus, some encouragement for military spouses struggling to process recent events in Afghanistan.
Follow Elaine Brye on Facebook. Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Episode 79: Back to School in a Pandemic: What Military Families Should Know
Former Air Force physician and education expert Dr. Mario Ramirez offers a look at what kids will face as they head back to school this fall — from mask policies to changes in extracurricular activities and shifts in academic focus. Plus, what's known about the COVID-19 delta variant and how it’s affecting school-age kids.
Mentioned in this episode:
“Here Are the Names of the 13 U.S. Service Members Killed in Afghanistan Attack,” Marine Corps Times
“10 States Have School Mask Mandates While 8 Forbid Them,” Pew
“America’s Public Schools Are Not Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccination Debate,” The Hill
Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Episode 65: A Spike in Cybercrimes Against Military Families
A Gold Star spouse discovered her late husband's photo was being used in online romance scams. Now, she's part of a new campaign to educate about a rise in cybercrimes impacting service members, veterans and their families at disproportionate rates.
Follow the Cybercrime Support Network on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and visit FightCybercrime.org to learn more. Follow the Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Episode 64: An Army Spouse on Afghanistan: It’s ‘Like a Member of My Family’
As U.S. troops prepare to leave Afghanistan, an Army spouse shares her perspective on a country she's come to know and love through her husband's many deployments and the toll the war there has taken on her life.
Follow Rebekah Sanderlin on Twitter. Follow the Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Episode 62: What a White House Initiative Means for Military Kids
First Lady Jill Biden is tackling military kids’ education as part of the White House Joining Forces Initiative. In this episode, a military kid shares her experiences moving from school to school, and a military child education leader shares what families can expect from the program.
Episode 61: The Story Behind ‘Military Spouse Owned’
A new Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce offers multiple resources for entrepreneurs and, for the first time, the chance to be federally recognized as a military spouse-owned business. Two Army spouses working on this project provide all the details.
Follow the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Follow the Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Episode 60: What Spouses Say Are the Biggest Challenges of Military Life
The latest results of the annual Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey are in. Hear how much the coronavirus pandemic has impacted military families and which challenges still remain consistent – COVID-19 or not.
The latest results of the annual Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey are in. Hear how much the coronavirus pandemic has impacted military families and which challenges still remain consistent – COVID-19 or not.
Find out more about the survey at https://bluestarfam.org/survey-2/.
Episode 59: Why 2020 Was One Military Spouse Entrepreneur's Best Year Yet
On this month's feature episode, attorney and business coach Rachel Brenke shares how a cancer diagnosis launched her into entrepreneurship and how she's maintained success throughout the hard times of military life and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Episode 58: Struggling with Food Insecurity as a Military Family
Many military families are struggling to put food on the table, research shows. An Army spouse discusses what it’s like dealing with food insecurity and the resources that have helped her family, and a military spouse near Joint Base Lewis-McChord shares how she's growing food to give away to families in need.
Episode 57: Making It Easier for Military Spouses to Work
More states are passing laws to make it easier for military spouses to transfer professional licenses after a move. A lawyer and a teacher share some of the barriers they’ve faced when having to transfer their careers after a PCS.
For more information on state license recognition laws mentioned in this episode, click here.
Episode 56: Many Military Families With Special Needs Aren’t Getting Help
The military offers dedicated resources for families with special medical and educational needs. Yet according to a new survey, many families don't know about it.
Learn more about Partners in PROMISE on Facebook and at promiseact.org. Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
BONUS: Secrets to Financial Success for Military Families
A financial expert who works with military families shares his top tips and practical advice for building financial security — especially during hard times.
This episode is sponsored by First Command. To learn more about the services the company provides to military families, visit firstcommand.com.
Episode 55: Improving the Experiences of Military Families of Color
A leading military nonprofit has launched an initiative to better understand and support the experiences of minority families. Two spouses working behind the scenes on the project share more about it and what their own experiences have been like as women of color in the military community.
Follow The Spouse Angle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Episode 54: Being Black Women at West Point: A Family's Story
The four women of the Copeland-Haynes family have all graduated from or are currently attending West Point. To close out Black History Month, Army Col. June Copeland and her daughters share how they all ended up at the United States Military Academy, the challenges they’ve faced as black women in military service and the bond they have from going through it all together.
Episode 53: How Military Spouse Unemployment Impacts Mental Health
New research sheds light on the way unemployment can affect the mental health of military spouses and their families. In this episode, two spouses share their struggles and how they finally found work success.
The Hiring Our Heroes “Wellbeing in the Workplace” resource mentioned in the episode can be found here.