Shows
Our Navy LifeS6 E6: Navigating Military Marriage and Mental Health: A Conversation with Corie WeathersShow 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 the importance of building community and support networks during difficult seasons of military life. Show Links:Corie WeathersDay One JournalUSO Show Takeaways: Military marriages face unique pressures — from frequent moves to extended separ...2025-06-1741 minOur Navy LifeS6 E5: Preparing for Your PCS: Everything You Need to KnowS6 E5: Preparing for Your PCS: Everything You Need to KnowPCS 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 on service members. We also discuss the Secretary of Defense’s recent memo to address the issues service members and their families are experiencing this PCS seaso...2025-05-2937 minOur Navy LifeS6 E4: "If Not Me, Then Who?”: A Memorial Day Conversation with Ryan ManionThis 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 others, all designed to help communities heal, grow, and lead with purpose.Listeners will hear how TMF empowers individuals to live by the motto: "If Not Me, Then Who..."Show Links...2025-05-2033 minOur Navy LifeS6 E3: Celebrating Our Military Spouses: Featuring AFI’s Military Spouse of the Year Navy Branch Winners Angela Litteral and Jennifer Barnhill Celebrating Our Military Spouses: Featuring AFI’s Military Spouse of the Year Navy Branch Winners Angela Litteral and Jennifer BarnhillArmed 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. In this episode, we talk with Navy branch winners Angela Litteral (2024) and Jennifer Barnhill (2025) to discuss the program and their platforms, as well the importance of military spouses everywhere creating change in th...2025-05-0636 minOur Navy LifeS6 E2: Strengthening Connections: How United Through Reading Helps Military Families ThriveStrengthening Connections: How United Through Reading Helps Military Families ThriveUnited 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 recordings help deployed servicemembers stay connected to the military children in their lives. But the program isn’t only for deployments - UTR helps encourage reading anytime, anywhere. Penney tells us all about the many literary resources that UTR offers and all the incr...2025-04-0131 minOur Navy LifeS6 E1: Your Health, Your Benefits: Exploring the New HCFSA InitiativeYour Health, Your Benefits: Exploring the New HCFSA InitiativeShow 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:Office of Financial Readiness - Understanding the HCFSAKnowing your Benefits Healthcare FSA Applying for FSA Eligible Expense Guide ...2025-03-1827 minOur Navy LifeS5 E6: Holiday Shop with Spouse-ly featuring Monica FullertonHoliday 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, promotions, and more!), or find out how to join this community of creators and entrepreneurs if you want to become a seller.
Show Links:
https://spouse-ly.com/gift-guide/
https://www.instagram.com/spouse.l...2024-12-1231 minOur Navy LifeS5 E5: A New Era for EFMP: What’s Changing for Military FamiliesA 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 categories and change in respite care.
Show Links:
Dissolution of Navy EFMP Program dissolution-of-navy-efmp-program.pdf
EFM Respite Care Changes EFMP Respite Care Changes
Partners in Promise Partners in PROMISE Po...2024-12-0333 minOur Navy LifeS5 E4: Preparing for Your Next Chapter: Transition and Retirement ResourcesShow 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 Military Life Cycle Courses
Office of Financial Readiness (retirement calculator, find a personal financial counselor, financial courses and tools):
Department of Veterans Affairs
Find a Veteran Service Officer...2024-11-1923 minOur Navy LifeS5 E3: When the Unexpected Strikes: Navigating Emergency Situations
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 Hatch provides resources that families can utilize when they face an unexpected emergency.
Show Links:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
Navy JA...2024-11-0728 minOur Navy LifeS5 E2: Holiday Meals and More: How Operation Homefront Helps Military Families Thrive
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 opportunity.
Show Links:
http://www.operationhomefront.org
Show Takeaways:
Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing relief and recurring family support programs to military families in need.
Holiday Meals for the...2024-10-2133 minOur Navy LifeS5 E1: Celebrating our CPO Selectees!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 a CPO is a major career milestone
Spouses and family members are provided wi...2024-08-2027 minOur Navy LifeS4 E8: Ask an Ombudsman: How Your Command Ombudsman Serves to Support YouAsk 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 ombudsman, and how vital they are to mission readiness. We also speak with two current ombudsmen, Jessica Pugh and Sharon Kozak, who shed light on the ins and ou...2024-07-2929 minOur Navy LifeS4 E7: Better Together: Naval Services FamilyLine and Blue Star Families Join Forces 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 gatherings. In an exciting partnership, Blue Star Families and Naval Services FamilyLine are joining together to launch the first ever service-specific Neighborhood, ensuring they’ll reach and support even more Navy families. On this episode, Blue Sta...2024-07-1423 minOur Navy LifeS4 E6: Hot Topic: Military Spouse Employment, featuring Hiring Our Heroes
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 Military Spouse Fellowship Program
Show Takeaways:
The Military Spouse under and unemployment rate is much higher than the national average; Hiring Our Heroes has an entire team dedicated to milit...2024-07-0118 minOur Navy LifeS4 E5: Unsung Heroes: The League of Wives and the Power of Military Spouse Changemakers
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 episode we talk to Alexia Palacios-Peters, Chairperson of the League of Wives Memorial Project, about the soon-to-be unveiled memorial dedicated to these extraordinary women, and their enduring legacy. We also talk to Sheila Casey, Executive D...2024-06-1628 minOur Navy LifeS4 E4: Protecting Our Protectors: Safeguarding Military Families through Accessible Childcare
Supporting our servicemembers means supporting their families. Having safe, reliable, affordable access to childcare is a critical issue that directly impacts military readiness and retention. Our guest Christin Anderson shares how her urgent need for childcare ended in a tragedy when her son suffered a traumatic brain injury at the hands of an abusive caregiver, while Kayla Corbit, founder of Operation Child Care Project, shares how OCCP is ensuring military families have the resources they need to safely meet their childcare needs.
Show Links:
Operation Child Care Project
OCCP Facebook
2024-06-0436 minOur Navy LifeS4 E3: Empowering Military Spouses: A Journey to Career Fulfillment with American Corporate Partners
Military Spouses have much higher rates of under and unemployment than their civilian counterparts. Finding long-term, meaningful employment as a military spouse can be difficult, and sometimes disheartening, due to frequent relocations, difficulties with childcare, and sometimes even a lack of confidence. In this episode Leslie Coffey and Ashton Andrews of American Corporate Partners discuss their organization’s mission to assist vets and military spouses find meaningful, long-term careers through their personalized mentorship program and upcoming small business program.
Show Links
American Corporate Partners
Active Duty Spouse Program | American Corporate Partners
...2024-05-2134 minOur Navy LifeS4 E2: Navigating Your Military Child’s Education
Season 4 Episode #2: Get to Know Your S-L-O: A Conversation with Naval School Liaison, Mindy Hayes
Moving schools can be hard on both military children and their parents. In this episode, Naval Base Coronado School Liaison Mindy Hayes, discusses all the ways you can support your child academically and emotionally through PCSing, deployments, and more. From making sure your child adjusts to a new school, to navigating IEPs, to transferring school credits and preparing for post-secondary education, the School Liaison is an invaluable resource for Navy families. Listen to learn how your Naval School Liaison...2024-05-0730 minOur Navy LifeS4 E1: Get to Know FamilyLine!
Naval Services FamilyLine is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to serving naval spouses around the world. Our network of experienced, trained volunteer spouses allows us to mentor, consult, and guide families in the Navy. FamilyLine’s programs include Compass, CORE, Naval Spouse Leadership Courses, and online and hardcopy publications all designed to equip Navy spouses with the resources they need to be educated, empowered, and supported throughout their Navy journey.
Show Links:
Compass
Core
Navy Spouse Leadership Course
FamilyLine Publications
Anchors Aweigh
MyNavy Fam...2024-04-2322 minOur Navy LifeS3 E5 Stories of Resilience: Maegan JonesStories of Resilience: Maegan Jones
Maegan Jones is a proud Navy spouse of 14 years and mom to one daughter, age 8. Maegan is originally from Glenwood, Iowa, and Navy life has taken her to Hawaii, California, Tennessee, and most recently, Washington state. Maegan serves as the Secretary on the Naval Services FamilyLine Board of Directors and is also a COMPASS mentor. Additionally, Maegan is the ombudsman for her spouse's command.
Maegan earned a Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration in 2014 and has worked across a variety of industries. Maegan is currently employed by a...2023-12-1225 minOur Navy LifeS3 E4 Navigating TRICARENavigating TRICARE
Zelly Zim is a Health System Specialist in the Policy & Program Section for TRICARE Health Plan, Defense Health Agency. Her primary role is as the senior analyst for the TRICARE Select program. She serves as a subject matter expert, which involves the promulgation of federal statutes into Regulation and Policy for the Department of Defense’s 9.6 million healthcare beneficiaries.
Links from Zelly :
https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Enroll/OpenSeason
https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans
https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/QLE
https...2023-11-2837 minOur Navy LifeS3 E3 Stories of Resileince: Mrs. Annie Rae Payne
Stories of Resilience: Mrs. Annie Rae Payne
Annie Rae Payne is a Navy Veteran who previously worked for the state of Washington as the Education Coordinator at a state-funded early childhood education and assistance program. She is the Life Skills and Family Advocacy Program Educator at the Fleet and Family Support Center at NAS Whidbey Island. In addition to being the NASWI Ombudsman Coordinator, she has been an Ombudsman for 13 years and is presently appointed to the World Famous Rooks of VAQ-137.
She and her husband, Eric, are about to...2023-11-1436 minOur Navy LifeS3 E2 Stories of Resilience: Dr. Rosie Ortiz-Torres
Stories of Resilience: Dr. Rosie Ortiz-Torres
Dr. Rosie Ortiz-Torres obtained her Doctoral degree while also living overseas the last 10 years, raising two teenagers, navigating deployments and volunteering with the military community as well. She’ll share her personal experience in leaving active duty and leveraging resources such as the Red Cross, Fleet and Family Support Centers and the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society.
Show Links:
https://www.nsfamilyline.org/compass
https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html
https://www.nmcrs.org/
https://ffr.cnic.navy.mil/Family-Readiness/Fleet-And-Family-Support-Program/
2023-10-3137 minOur Navy LifeS3 E1 Stories of Resilience: Meg Graves
Stories of Resilience: Meg Graves
As a proud Navy military wife of 12 years, Meg is no stranger to the hardships of being married in the military. Their three children, two of whom are EFM, and her own EFM status as a Breast Cancer survivor have given her first-hand experience in advocating for their unique needs. Breast cancer has taught her that we all have our own version of hard. She has empowered, led, and encouraged other military families as their needs and families grow and change. Her role as a Navy ombudsman (& Air Force key...2023-10-1733 minOur Navy LifeS2 E10 Honoring Pride Month: Live Your Navy Life Authentically and With Pride!
Honoring Pride Month: Live Your Navy Life Authentically and With Pride!
In honor of Pride Month, today’s episode chats with Ashley and Julie Harper. Julie and Ashley are a same-sex couple married for 6 years, both from Jacksonville, FL. Julie serves on Active Duty in the Navy and Ashley works full time at the Naval Academy. They welcomed their first child, Avery, in April this year. Ashley and Julie’s journey as a gay Navy family is not unlike that of other Navy families. In this interview, we talk about how to b...2023-06-2739 minOur Navy LifeS2 E9 Navigating the Exceptional Family Member Program: A Spouse’s Journey to Advocate for Her Daughter and Other Navy Families
Navigating the Exceptional Family Member Program: A Spouse’s Journey to Advocate for Her Daughter and Other Navy Families
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) can often be overwhelming and challenging to navigate. Join us for today’s episode as we chat with Michelle Norman, mother of a 19-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and 21 other disabilities. After years of successfully advocating and winning multiple legal cases to ensure her daughter receives the minimum education required by law, she was contacted by military families across the country dealing with similar problems in public schools. Out of her p...2023-06-1345 minOur Navy LifeS2 E8 Military Spouse Appreciation: Living the Navy Life as Colorfully as You Can with Katie Kortman
One of our missions with “Our Navy Life” is to share the incredible stories of what Navy spouses are doing in their communities and how they’re choosing to live this Navy life. In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Month, today’s episode is a conversation with Katie Kortman, Navy spouse and mother of four kids. Katie is a fashion and textile designer, painter, teacher, and dancing queen. In 2021, Katie was a designer on season 19 of Bravo’s Project Runway. Today, she lives with her husband, a Navy obstetrician and gynecologist, and their four children and they are statio...2023-05-3056 minOur Navy LifeS2 E7 Mental Toughness: On the brink of a breakdown (Heidi Dindial)
Mental Toughness
DISCLAIMER: The next three episodes are part of a series on Mental Toughness and the discussions will share very vulnerable stories and resources about suicide. If hearing about and discussing suicide is triggering, we encourage you to come back and listen at a time that is right for you. Talking about suicide doesn’t lead to suicide, but we know that people are scared to talk about it.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Our Navy Life is digging in to talk about suicide, suicide prevention, and how we can sup...2023-05-1626 min
Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 The audio hug for parents of teens and tweens.41: Conflict resolution skills can deepen your relationship with your teen; here's how.What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Conflict is normal - but it often escalates during teenage years because our kids are trying to assert their own wishes, and probably aren't very skilled at it. As parents, it's easy to fall into classic conflict traps if we don't have the skills for resolving disagreements. In this episode we talk about the key techniques we can use - and teach - to ease tension and bust-ups at home and elsewhere. What's even better is...2023-05-1032 min