Episode 78: An Army Colonel’s Journey to the Paralympics
The Paralympics have started, and this week’s episode features retired Army Col. Patty Collins, who competed as a Team USA Paralympics triathlete in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the elite competition and shares her story of healing after trauma and life as an amputee.
This episode is sponsored by SpouseLink, a unique space created to help bridge the distance between family and friends that comes with military life. Learn more at SpouseLink.org.
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Episode 77: A Combat Vet and a Gold Star Spouse React to Afghanistan
With all eyes on Afghanistan, a combat veteran and a Gold Star spouse share their connections to the country and what it has been like watching the Taliban take over.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
This episode is sponsored by SpouseLink, a unique space created to help bridge the distance between family and friends that comes with military life. Learn more at SpouseLink.org.
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Episode 76: Unemployed By COVID-19: How 5 Military Spouses Pivoted
Many Americans who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic are pivoting to entrepreneurship or new career fields. Five military spouses share their encouraging stories and tips for success.
This episode is sponsored by SpouseLink, a unique space created to help bridge the distance between family and friends that comes with military life. Learn more at SpouseLink.org.
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Episode 75: Making It Illegal to Discriminate Against Military Spouses
Virginia has now made military families part of a protected class. Two military spouses who have experienced employment discrimination explain the significance of this law and what it could mean for military spouses everywhere.
This episode is sponsored by SpouseLink, a unique space created to help bridge the distance between family and friends that comes with military life. Learn more at SpouseLink.org.
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Episode 74: Meet the Military Spouse Who Moonlights as a Mermaid
Military spouse and entertainer Aj Smit uses her creativity to bring joy to people of all ages. In this episode, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a professional mermaid and also her role in the Red Tent movement, creating safe discussion spaces for both military and civilian women wherever the Air Force takes her.
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BONUS: Community Building as a Military Spouse
Two Marine Corps spouses share their struggles of building community during military life and what's ultimately helped them make lasting friendships.
This episode is sponsored by SpouseLink, a unique space created to help bridge the distance between family and friends that comes with military life.
Episode 72: What a Dead Voting Bill Has to Do With Military Families
A landmark piece of voting legislation, the "For the People Act," didn't make it past the Senate. Yet a military spouse and advocate breaks down why military families should care that it didn't pass — and what's next for their voting rights.
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Episode 71: A Same-Sex Spouse's Perspective on Military Life
In 2018 Brian Alvarado was the first same-sex military spouse to receive the Navy Spouse of the Year Award. Now he's using his national platform — including an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" — to advocate for military spouses and families. In this episode he also shares how the military's transformation since the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" era has shaped his family's service.
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Episode 70: Why Your Base Housing Rights Depend on Where You Live
Implementation of the Defense Department's Tenant Bill of Rights for military families in base housing has hit a few snags, even as more families sue the companies that manage these properties. A Stars and Stripes reporter provides the latest updates.
Articles mentioned in this episode include:
Former managers for privatized housing company plead guilty to fraud in doctoring maintenance records, Military Times
These 37 Army bases are providing all privatized housing tenant rights, Military Times
DOD delays final protections for military families in housing tenant bill of rights — again, Stars and Stripes
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Episode 69: Need a Job or Child Care? Military Families May Be Getting Help
Help may be on the way for military spouses struggling to find employment or pay for child care, as Congress weighs multiple bills that would impact military families financially.
To make your voice heard on the legislation discussed in this episode, contact your elected officials through the Military Officers Association of America via the MOAA Take Action Center or share your story with the National Military Family Association.
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Episode 67: Shannon Kent’s Gold Star Husband Shares Their Story
Gold Star husband and retired Green Beret Joe Kent reflects on the life of his late wife, who was killed on a special operations mission fighting ISIS in Syria. Joe is raising the couple's two young sons and shares how he's preserving Shannon Kent's legacy as a mother and a warrior.
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.
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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.
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