MilSpouse Conversations
By Military Spouse Conversations
We're a diverse panel of Military spouses having REAL conversations about ALL aspects of life.
Let's talk about it!
MilSpouse Conversations Apr 22, 2022
What's happening at MilSpouse Conversations in September
Find out what we have going on here at MilSpouse Conversations in September. Let's talk about community. How important is community to you?
Things to Do While Stationed at Fort Belvoir
Hey there! This week on the podcast, Sybil is talking all about things to do while stationed at Fort Belvoir. And let me tell you, this isn't your typical polished military spouse platform. We're keeping it real and relatable, just like you would in a conversation with your good, good girlfriends sitting on the couch. I know that being stationed at Fort Belvoir can sometimes feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, but fear not! There are plenty of fun activities and places to explore in the surrounding area. From hiking trails to local breweries, we've got you covered. Plus, Sybil will be sharing some insider secrets about her joys and hidden gems. So grab a cup of tea or glass of wine kick back, and join us for some real talk about all the things to do while stationed at Fort Belvoir. BE YOU❣️
Visit THEE Blog to read the article in its entirety, as well as learn about other great things to do while stationed at Fort Belvoir. We'll be continuously adding to the list to make your time at Fort Belvoir enjoyable.
What's In Your Makeup Bag
Conversation Starters Sybil and Anna have a casual conversation on our first episode of FABulous Friday. They share about the products in their makeup bag and their go to products.
Anna breaks down how often you should replace your products to ensure you keep your skin healthy.
There Ain't No Way - Picture Hanging Hack
Tired of holes all over your wall when trying to hang pictures? Listen to this picture hanging hack from Conversation Starter Grace Romo.
What Is A DITY Move In The Military?
The military throws a lot of acronyms at you. During this episode, Marine spouse and Conversation Starter Grace breaks down what a DITY move is.
Buckle up and hold on to your seats. Let's talk about a DITY.
Tips To Help You Prep For Your Upcoming PCS
THEE Conversation Starters share a few of their personal PCS tips that have helped them prep for upcoming PCS's throughout the years of being military spouses.
Not only will you hear some great tips, but you will also be entertained as these military spouses give you a brief glimpse into their own lives. These milspouses are REAL and RELATABLE when it comes to life.
Nurturing Friendships
How do you nurture your friendships?
Do you understand your friends' love language and know what they need from their friends?
Realities of Life
We'll all be faced with realities in life. It may be realizing that you need help in certain areas of your life, the loss of a loved one, or that your life is changing due to other factors of life.
Join us for Season 2, episode 5 of THEE Conversation sponsored by USAA, as we chat with our special guest Robert Jones about Realities of Life.
Robert is a military spouse and businessman with over 35 years in the Trucking Industry. Originally from Jacksonville, Fl, he moved to Japan in November 2011, where he worked as a Youth Sports Manager. He loves working with kids of all ages as he has coached sports for over 25 years.
We covered many realities that we face:
- Living in a foreign country
- Means of transportation when residing in a foreign country
- Being away from loved ones
- Losing a family member
- Moving every few years and managing kids
- Your own health situations
- and so much more
Stay up to date with MilSpouse Conversations by following us on social media @milspouseconversations
What's Your Personal Elevator Pitch?
Season 2 Episode 4 of THEE Conversation is sponsored by USAA.
Let's talk about how YOU introduce yourself to the world.
When we think of an elevator pitch, we often think of job seeking or an entrepreneur wanting to sell you their business idea.
But an elevator pitch spans far beyond that.
We give elevator pitches every time we meet someone new - a quick run to the grocery store, dropping the kids off at school, going to work, during virtual social hours, moving to a new duty station, and the list goes on.
These are opportunities to introduce yourself to build personal connections and long-lasting friendships. But so often, those opportunities are missed because you don't introduce yourself. You introduce your spouse, children, and pets. No. No. Tell people about YOU and the FABulous things YOU have to offer this world. We'll chat about our elevator pitches from professional to personal pitches, during this episode of THEE Conversation. Let's get CONVOLICIOUS!!
Show Yourself Some Love - The Importance of Taking Care of YOU
It's time for another episode of THEE Conversation brought to you by our sponsor USAA.
February is the month of LOVE, and we go ALL out for our loved ones this month as we celebrate Valentine's Day. But I don't want to talk about showing love for everyone else right now.
Let's talk about YOU showing YOUrself some L O V E starting today and beyond. 🥰 Okay, just sayin' ❣️ Join The Conversation Starters as we talk about:
✨Self-love
✨The Importance of taking care of YOU
✨Ways to love on YOUrself
Tune in to our Facebook page, LinkedIN or Youtube to catch our LIVE segment every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. It's going to be a CONVOLICIOUS good time.
What To Expect When You Marry A Military Member
Whether you're a new military spouse, seasoned spouse, or not affiliated with the military at all, there's the looming question: What is life like as a military spouse?
Tune in as the Conversation Starters share their advice and stories about what to expect when you marry a military member.
Listen as they share how their lives changed from the time they said, "I Do" to their current stage of military spouse life.
The Conversation Starters range from 5 years to 20+ years of service. We want to give a CONVOLICIOUS THANK YOU to our sponsor USAA for helping us bring THEE Conversation to you.
What's Your Power Word For 2022?
This season of THEE Conversation is brought to you by our sponsor USAA.
Let's talk about our Power Word for 2022.
What's your word of the year?
New Year Resolutions can seem more like a chore that you're marking off your to-do list, whereas choosing a word of the year jump starts you on where you want to BE. The power word YOU choose helps you begin shifting all areas of your life, not just one.
During this episode of #theeconversation, the Conversation Starters share their power words and a little about why they chose the word this year.
You can watch the video of this episode on our Youtube channel.
What's your POWER WORD for 2022?
Celebrating Holidays When You're Away From Family
As military families, we are often miles and even oceans away from our families and friends.
We are often away from our spouses due to the needs of the military. In this episode of THEE Conversation, the Conversation Starters share how they celebrate the holidays and bring that joy to wherever they are.
The Silent Crisis
In this episode of THEE Conversation the conversation starters talk about:
THE CRISIS WE DON’T TALK ABOUT
- Midlife and identity crisis in the community of people who support the working class.
- Creating a positive self identify
- Improving mental health in the caregiver community
The duties and responsibilities of caring for a family entail taking on several roles that have an occupational equivalent, and the lack of proper care for the wellbeing of the caregiver can lead to increased stress and burnout. In some cases, the person does try to reach out for help or express their unhappiness with life, and it is met with indifference or misunderstanding because it is perceived as nagging or complaining.
Whatever someone is going through at any given time is important to them and reminding them it could be worse does not help address the issues they are presently experiencing.
Join us for social hour and continue the conversation.
Back-to-school tips
The conversation starters share a few of their back to school tips.
Military Spouses Share Their Engagement and Wedding Stories
The conversation starters share their engagement and wedding stories in this episode.
Feel the love and get some laughs.
Stories you will hear and love:
Middle school love. Poop gate. Wheels being jacked during the reception. First bonus going to the purchase of the diamond.
Listen as these AMAZING military spouses share a bit about their LOVE.
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month on our FB page.
How Did You Meet Your Spouse and Where Was Your First Date
Join the conversation starters as they share a little about how they met spouses and their first date.
Be sure to head on over to our website to our about us section and learn a bit more about each conversation starter in this episode.
Do you want to tell us how you met your spouse and about your first date? If so, email us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com. We can schedule a chat segment, and you tell us all about it.
Yoga Breaks for Busy Babes - why you should try yoga and how to fit it in, even when you're really busy!
Bernadette is a proud military spouse and yoga therapist! With over 9 years of teaching experience and a consistent dedication to studying and practicing yoga, she has a gift for applying ancient yoga techniques in a simple and effective way to our modern lifestyles. With deep faith in the life-changing power of a daily yoga practice, she's excited to help you uncover your potential and feel amazing on a multi-dimensional level.
During this episode, you will hear all about:
The reasons why you should practice yoga even (and especially!) when you're really busy; how a tiny bit of yoga daily can be a game changer; a go-to breathing practice reduce stress instantly.
Connect with Bernadette on her website: Bernadette Soler
Journey to Recovery - Mental Health and Sobriety
Conversation with Christina Kimbrough - Journey to Recovery
Christina Kimbrough is a mental health advocate, speaker and writer sharing her story of recovery from mental illness and addiction in order to end the stigma surrounding these conditions. When she's not working she can be found running, reading or shopping. Christina lives in Chesapeake, VA with her two cats and husband.
You can learn more about Christina and her journey to recovery at her website Christina Kimbrough.
Take a listen to this episode to hear:
- How Christina got and stayed sober during covid
- Hope for others looking to heal
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month as we stream LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook page and join us at our Milspouse Conversations Facebook group. You can also catch any of our replays via Youtube.
Do you have a topic you want us to discuss? Send it to us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com
Bratz - Growing Up As A Military Child
In honor of The Month Of The Military Child, our junior conversation starter Jasmine led the conversation.
Tune in to hear a conversation between military kids as they talk about PCSing, deployments, friendships, and more.
They also share some advice with the parents. Advice for the parent on the homefront and for the parent reintegrating back into the home after a deployment.
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month as we stream LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook page and join us at our Milspouse Conversations Facebook group. You can also catch any of our replays via Youtube.
Do you have a topic you want us to discuss? Send it to us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com
Navigating Military Life With Kids - PCSing and Deployments
In honor of the Month of the Military Child, Milspouse Conversations hosted a discussion about how they navigate military life with kids.
Join our owner and host Sybil Jones as she leads the conversation talking about PCSing and Deployments with kids.
During this episode of Milspouse Conversations the conversation starters will address:
- The difference in military life with younger kids and older kids
- Including kids in the PCSing decision - why, why and how much
- Talking to kids about deployments - what and how much they share
- and yes, you already know they had some other things they touched on. It's never a dull moment at Milspouse Conversations
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month as we stream LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook page and join us at our Milspouse Conversations Facebook group. You can also catch any of our replays via Youtube.
Do you have a topic you want us to discuss? Send it to us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com
All Things PCS - CONUS PCSing from Getting Orders to Arriving
Our conversation starter Becca Hyde led us in a discussion about CONUS moves. Let's talk about all things from getting your orders to arriving at your next duty station.
The conversation starters will have you cracking up this week. Trust us. You do not want to miss this episode. Grab your beverage, pop in your earplugs as you take a stroll, listen while you do prepare for your very own PCS. Basically....you NEED to take a listen. You'll gain some knowledge and have some laughs.
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month as we stream LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook page and join us at our Milspouse Conversations Facebook group. You can also catch any of our replays via Youtube.
Do you have a topic you want us to discuss? Send it to us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com
OCONUS Moves How It Affects A Military Spouse
This episode of Milspouse Conversations is brought to you by Media Beach Inc.
Our conversation starter Anna Bruner led us in a discussion about OCONUS Moves and how it affects a military spouse from emotion to the planning to the career and kids.
Each of our conversation starters shared a little about their experiences overseas and dropped some tips to help you through your move.
Join us LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month as we stream LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook page and join us at our Milspouse Conversations Facebook group. You can also catch any of our replays via Youtube.
Do you have a topic you want us to discuss? Send it to us at talktous@milspouseconversations.com
Intimacy and Communication
Big thank you to DadJonz for sponsoring this episode of Milspouse Conversations. DadJonz is a huge supporter of the military spouse community.
Courtney Boyer, owner of Stepping Stones Coaching shared some great information about Intimacy in our previous podcast episode. Head over and take a listen or view the interview on our Milspouse Conversations Youtube channel.
This episode of Milspouse Conversations is led by our Marketing Director and conversation starter Rebecca Hyde. When Rebecca isn't advocating for better mental health for military families, she is either spending time with her husband and three kids or working on her new business venture, Media Beach.
Rebecca will be heading up much needed "real and raw" conversations on "Mental Health," "Intimacy and the Military Marriage," and "Retiring from the Only Life You Know." She is an open book and is more than willing to share her knowledge and experience with her much loved military families.
In this episode of Milspouse Conversations, we discuss Intimacy and Communication while touching on keypoints Courtney spoke on during her episode. Man! We have some weeds to pull. Get ready to hear our views on:
- How our method of communication (as milspouses) sometimes looks a little different than others
- Intimacy is not just sex
- Vulnerability and why this may be affecting your ability to effectively communicate with your spouse
And oh...you don't want to miss the talk about the anchor and dropping those bags either. So, keep listening until the end. We told you we're REAL and RAW.
Intimacy Talk with Courtney Boyer - Relationship Coach & Sexuality Educator
Join us as we conversate with Courtney Boyer, owner of Stepping Stones Coaching.
Let's get down to it!
What is intimacy?
Connection and communication.
And hey! Do you have some weeds that you need to pull out of your garden?
A little about Courtney:
Earned a B.A. in political studies from Whitworth University. During her senior year, she realized she had a passion for sexual health and education so she went and earned a Masters in Education in Human Sexuality, became a Certified Sexuality Educator, and worked as a sexuality educator in Indianapolis, Indiana. She went back to graduate school and received an M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, became a Certified National Counselor, and opened her own mental health and sex therapy practice in Puyallup, WA. She currently resides near Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.
Received post-graduate training in:
- Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
- Mental and Emotional Release (MER)
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
- Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Curriculum Grades 7-9 & 10-12 Certified Facilitator
- Methodological Approaches to Couples & Affairs
- Relational Dynamics in Personal, Professional & Health Issues
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Besties, Frenemies & Friends - Let’s talk about friendship in the MilSpouse community
Join Milspouse Conversations as we are led by our conversation starter and Merchandise Graphic Designer Ny Cruz in a discussion about Friendships in the military spouse community.
✤What about your friends? Will they be around or will they turn their back on you?
✤Making friends in a constantly changing can be difficult
✤Sometimes we are moving away and sometimes our friends are moving away, and how this can impact friendships.
✤Another impact is that friendships can be more of convenience relationships rather than authentic bonds of friendship, especially in overseas environments.
✤Besties can turn into frenemies in an instance without notice or warning.
✤Some friendships last a lifetime while others become toxic and whither away, or just whither for no reason.
Official Launch Day - Meet the Conversation Starters
Meet the conversation starters of Milspouse Conversations.
Milspouse Conversations is a group of military spouses and one military child hosting Real Raw. Real Topics. Real Conversations.
Our conversations will cover Real Topics that you need and want to hear. Like for REALS. We’re NOT holding back.
This show is not for the faint of heart. If you feel it, we feel it. If you think it, we think it. No topic is safe from discussion.
Uncomfortable topics? Yes. Needed discussions? Absolutely. Unforgettable conversations? You better believe it!
Our format is REAL, and our format is like ole friends sitting on the couch or around the table catching up and talking about ole times.
Meet Our Conversation Starter Julie Provost
Julie Provost has been a military spouse for 15 years. Her husband has served in the active duty Army and now serves in the National Guard. She is a freelance writer, owner of Soldiers Wife, Crazy Life, mom of three boys, and lives in Tennessee. She loves to read, watch movies, and sit down with a nice cup of coffee.
Meet Our Conversation Starter Anna Bruner
Anna Bruner has been a military spouse for 24 years. She met her husband in High School when he enlisted in the Navy. He is now an Officer and Navy Pilot in the P8 community.
She is an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay and loves helping others look and feel confident in their own skin.
As a mom of two, she stays busy homeschooling and spoiling her beloved rescue dog, Sammy. She is from Virginia, but the Navy has taken them all over the U.S. as well as Japan. She loves to read, do yoga, watch movies, and hang out on her comfy couch.
Meet Our Junior Conversation Starter Jasmine Jones
I’m Jasmine, just a regular junior in high school who’s writing about her little life experience. I enjoy softball, skating, watching T.V., talking with and hanging out with friends. I plan to study Psychology in college. I have several colleges on my list. To name a few: Spellman, Howard, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UNC, and a few others.
This interview was streamed LIVE on our Milspouse Conversations Facebook Page.
Meet our Conversation Starter Hope Bradley
Erika Hope Bradley is a military spouse advocate, non-profit leader, freelance writer, and public speaker. Passionate about raising the awareness of the mental health challenges dependents face and removing the stigma.
Our episodes are recorded from our LIVES over on our MilSpouse Conversations Facebook page.
Meet our Conversation Starter Nyshita Cruz
Nyshita Cruz is both a Navy Spouse and Veteran. She’s from Detroit Michigan. She served in the US Navy for 10 years and met her husband while on active duty. They’ve been married for 19 years, and it’s been quite an interesting journey. As they approach retirement, she is looking forward to continuing to serve our military community and expand her service to a global arena.
She is a humanitarian at heart and has served in roles of support for our military families.
After her military service, she went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and utilized some of those skills during her time as a Programs Assistant for the Navy Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department, which is geared towards improving quality of life for the families of military service members. She also served in the role of Navy Ombudsman for a Naval Ship in Italy, helping families to communicate their needs and concerns to the Ship’s Chain of Command. In this role, she was a liaison between the Chain of Command and the Service Members’ families. As a global citizen, she is thankful to have been able to be of service over the years and now is thankful and excited to join MilSpouse Conversations where she’s sure we will have some great conversations about topics that are relevant and helpful to spouses all over the world and in every branch of service.
You can find her at Doodle Maestro creating fun t-shirts.
Meet The Host of Milspouse Conversations
Season one is all about you getting to know our Conversation Starters.
Sybil is the host of Milspouse Conversations.
She's a Navy wife of 18 years and has the gift gab. After years of riding the waves of military life, she has decided to have those REAL. RAW, RANDOM & SUPPORTIVE conversations about military spouse life.
Sit back and enjoy as she chats away.
You can catch us on our website Milspouse Conversations.