Milspouse In The House

The holiday shopping season is here — and where you spend your money can make a bigger impact than you might think.

In this episode of MilSpouse in the House, host Christie Nix sits down with Air Force spouse and Spouse-ly founder Monica Fullerton to talk about military spouse entrepreneurship, building a business through the challenges of military life, and why shopping small can make a meaningful difference for military families.

Monica created Spouse-ly as an online marketplace connecting shoppers with products and services from military and first responder-owned businesses. But building the platform also meant building a community — one designed to help military-connected entrepreneurs gain visibility, grow their businesses, and reach customers who want to support them.

Together, Christie and Monica talk about how military life shaped Monica's own career, the moment she realized Spouse-ly needed to exist, and why the adaptability military spouses develop through PCS moves, deployments, and career changes can translate surprisingly well to entrepreneurship.

And with the holidays approaching, they're talking shopping, too.

Monica shares why a single purchase from a military spouse or veteran-owned business can have an impact far beyond the item in your cart, what shoppers can find on Spouse-ly, and why you shouldn't wait until the last minute to order those handmade and personalized gifts.

Plus, they discuss ways to support military-connected small businesses even when buying something isn't in your budget.

Whether you're looking for a meaningful holiday gift, building a business of your own, or simply want to support the military community this season, this conversation is a reminder that shopping small can make a big impact.

Episode Links

Shop military spouse, veteran, and first responder-owned businesses on Spouse-ly.com.

Follow Spouse-ly on social media for gift ideas, entrepreneur stories, and more ways to support military-connected businesses.

Stay Connected

Follow: @ThisIsMilSpouses on Instagram

Read: The latest military spouse news, resources, and real-life stories at MilSpouses.com

Know someone working through their holiday shopping list? Share this episode with them — and encourage them to make a few of those purchases from military-connected small businesses this year.

Sponsored by Talkspace

Military life is rewarding — but the holiday season can add another layer of stress to already busy lives. Talkspace makes it easier to prioritize your mental health by connecting you with a licensed therapist from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Talkspace offers flexible, secure support designed to fit into busy lives.

Visit Talkspace.com to learn more.

A Green Beret sergeant major can carry a lot and still hit a breaking point. From the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa, I sit down with Tyr, a recently retired Special Forces senior leader, to talk about the moment a “minor” traumatic event triggered years of buried stress and pushed him into suicidal thoughts and the hardest decision of his career: asking for mental health help even though it could derail a top leadership opportunity. He explains what it took to swallow the ego, why treatment became the road that saved his life, and how that work changed the way his kids relate to him now. 

From there, we pull the curtain back on VA disability claims and the realities most people never see. We dig into 38 CFR and why only accredited attorneys, nonprofits, and VSOs can represent veterans, how that rule both protects people and creates gaps, and why the VA can be difficult to navigate even when the staff cares. Tyr also breaks down the medical evidence side of the house: what a Nexus letter is, how DBQs work, why legitimate provider-signed opinions matter, and how veterans can avoid claim sharks and low-quality pay-for-letter shortcuts. If you care about VA benefits, PTSD support, and the transition from active duty to civilian life, this part gets practical fast. 

We also talk stigma and language. “Disability” can sound like “you can’t work,” especially to civilians, and that misunderstanding fuels everything from workplace confusion to loud claims of VA fraud. Tyr shares why “compensation” might be a better frame, what invisible injuries look like day to day, and how a service dog can interrupt a spiral before it takes over. 

If this conversation helps you, share it with a veteran or military spouse, and subscribe so you don’t miss what we publish next. What’s the one part of the VA process you wish more people understood?

One form, one deadline, and one misunderstood program can decide whether a surviving spouse keeps reliable income or faces an immediate financial drop. Broadcasting live from the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa, Florida, we sit down with Dave from Navy Mutual to unpack survivorship benefits in plain language and explain why military spouses need to be in the room for these choices. 

We dig into the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), how premiums come out of retired pay, and what SBP is actually buying: the ability for a portion of that retirement pay to continue to a spouse after the service member’s death. We also cover the legal reality that SBP is not a solo decision, because the spouse has equal rights in the election. We talk through what happens if paperwork is missing, why the system can default to maximum coverage, and how families can avoid an 11th hour decision that they regret later. 

Then we shift to military transition and separation, where survivorship planning can change fast. Dave explains the shock many families feel when major protections like SGLI and the no cost death benefit can disappear within a short window after leaving active duty, and why that can create a survivorship gap. We also discuss practical alternatives and the bigger financial transition checklist: budgeting for a pay gap, weighing employer benefits, and building a risk mitigation plan that matches your real life, not a guess. 

If you want a clear starting point, we also share how to connect with Navy Mutual’s education team, including their monthly “candid conversations” webinar and phone line. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a military spouse who needs it, and leave a review with the question you wish someone had answered sooner.

Referrals. Paperwork. Starting over after every PCS. If you’ve ever felt like your family’s healthcare depends on how much time and stamina you have to fight the system, you’ll recognize this conversation immediately.

I’m joined by Selene Martin from CareSource Military and Veterans, recorded live at the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa. Selene shares how growing up in a Navy family and later becoming a military spouse shaped her “why,” and why she’s so focused on making sure military and veteran families understand their healthcare choices. We get real about what breaks during moves, what happens when specialty care is ongoing, and why the hardest time to learn the system is the moment it fails you.

We also dig into the TRICARE Prime Demo currently available in Greater Tampa and Greater Atlanta. Selene explains what stays the same with TRICARE Prime benefits and what changes when CareSource manages the plan with you, including a major pain point for many families: no referrals for in-network specialists. We talk about care managers, health needs assessments, support for complex health needs, and how a “stand in the gap” approach can reduce delays in both physical care and mental health care.

If you’re eligible and deciding what’s best for your household, you’ll hear practical ways to compare options and ask better questions before the next transition hits. Subscribe for more conversations that make military life simpler, share this with a spouse who’s overwhelmed by care logistics, and leave a review with the biggest healthcare barrier you want fixed next.

One of the hardest parts of military life isn’t the move itself; it’s the quiet question that follows: what happens to my goals every time we pack up again? From the floor of the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa, I sit down with Staci Holt, a Marine Corps spouse of more than 30 years and the spouse engagement lead with USAA Military Affairs, to get an honest look at what it takes to build a career, a family, and a sense of self across decades of PCS moves.

We talk about how military spouse support has evolved, and why technology matters more than we like to admit. Podcasts, social media communities, and instant access to resources can shrink isolation, especially on remote duty stations and overseas tours. Staci shares what it felt like to be young, lonely, and unsure, plus how mentorship used to require being physically in the room and how “living proof” is now visible to any spouse with a phone.

Then we get practical about military spouse employment: saying yes to imperfect opportunities, stacking skills across nonprofit and corporate roles, networking with intention, and advocating for yourself even when you’re not the “perfect” candidate. Staci breaks down what USAA listens for from spouses, how financial readiness and employment connect, why policy issues like professional licensing still disrupt careers, and how remote work can open doors when you’re willing to be flexible in the path you take.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a spouse who needs a boost, and leave a review so more military families can find it. What part of the military spouse career journey are you navigating right now?

Leaving military service comes with a long checklist.

Health care. Retirement pay. VA benefits. A new career. A new routine. And somewhere in that stack of paperwork is another important question: What happens to your life insurance?

In this episode of MilSpouse in the House, host Christie Nix sits down with military spouse Sarah Roder, Director of Member Experience and Survivor Assistance at Armed Forces Mutual, to break down what military families should know about life insurance as they prepare to separate or retire from service.

Sarah is also a Certified Financial Education Instructor who has spent her career working with military families across veterans affairs, member engagement, financial wellness, and survivor assistance. Just as importantly, she understands these transitions from the military spouse perspective.

Together, Christie and Sarah tackle a question many spouses may not think about until transition is already underway: What happens to Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, or SGLI, when military service ends—and what should families be doing now to prepare for what comes next?

Sarah explains where to start, how families can think about the amount of coverage they may need, and why factors like income, debt, a mortgage, children, and long-term financial goals should all be part of the conversation.

They also turn the focus to military spouses themselves. While much of the transition process centers on the servicemember's benefits, spouses should understand their own coverage needs, know where important financial documents and beneficiary information are located, and have a seat at the table when families make these decisions.

Whether retirement is a year away or still somewhere on the horizon, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to become an insurance expert—you just need to start asking the right questions before you need the answers.

Episode Links

Learn more about Armed Forces Mutual and its resources for military families: https://www.aafmaa.com/

Stay Connected

Follow: @ThisIsMilSpouses on Instagram

Read: The latest military spouse news, resources, and real-life stories at MilSpouses.com

Know a military family preparing to separate or retire? Share this episode with them. A little planning now can help eliminate one more surprise during an already complicated transition.

Sponsored by Talkspace

Military life is rewarding—but it can also feel overwhelming, especially when you're navigating major transitions, family, career, and everything in between. Talkspace makes it easier to prioritize your mental health by connecting you with a licensed therapist from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Talkspace offers flexible, secure support designed to fit into busy lives.

Visit Talkspace.com to learn more.

Moving is hard. Moving on military orders, often with short notice, kids in tow, and no built-in community nearby, can be brutal. From the Military Influencer Conference in Tampa, I sit down with Kaitlynne Yancy of Blue Star Families, a Navy veteran and military spouse, to talk about what helps families land well and what still needs to change at the policy level.

We get specific about Blue Star Welcome Week and why it’s more than a nice gesture. It’s a practical, local way to connect active duty, veteran, Guard, and Reserve families during PCS season, with events that include kids so the whole household can start rebuilding friendships and routines. We also dig into the “first 90 days” after a PCS move: job disruption, childcare shortages, school logistics, and the isolation that hits when the service member goes straight to work while everyone else starts from zero.

Then we shift into advocacy that directly affects quality of life. We talk military housing mold, what the Mold Act could change inside the National Defense Authorization Act, and why standards and contractor accountability matter when a home becomes uninhabitable. We also unpack military spouse unemployment and the potential impact of expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses, plus why remote work for military spouses is one of the most realistic career-stability tools available right now.

If you care about stronger military family support, safer military housing, and real solutions for spouse employment, listen through and share this with someone in PCS season. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell me what helped you most during your first 90 days after a move.

In this special episode recorded from Podcast Row at the 2026 Military Influencer Conference, host Christie Nix sits down with military spouse, mom of four, entrepreneur, content creator, and WOMAN + WARRIOR® founder Ashlee Sullivan to talk about what happens when military life completely rewrites your career plan.

Before building a business and an online community, Ashlee was a teacher. But as her family's military journey changed, so did her career. After navigating four states in one year, an unexpected rotation, four children—including a baby—and the realities of active-duty Army life, Ashlee learned an important lesson: Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to put your ambitions in park.

And then know when it's time to hit the gas again.

Together, Christie and Ashlee talk about making the leap from teaching to entrepreneurship, finding her voice as a military spouse content creator, and using humor to talk about the parts of military life that aren't always funny.

Ashlee also shares the story behind WOMAN + WARRIOR's Deployment Depression® Collection and how something born from one of the hardest seasons of her own military life became a way to help other spouses and servicemembers feel seen.

Whether you're considering a career pivot, building a business between PCS moves, or simply wondering what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that an unexpected path can still lead somewhere pretty incredible.

Episode Links

Shop WOMAN + WARRIOR®: https://womanandwarrior.com/

Follow Ashlee and WOMAN + WARRIOR® on social media for military spouse humor, community, new designs, and more..

Stay Connected

Follow: @ThisIsMilSpouses on Instagram

Read: The latest military spouse news, resources, and real-life stories at MilSpouses.com

Know a military spouse whose career hasn't gone exactly according to plan? Share this episode with them. Sometimes the detour isn't the end of the story—it's where the next chapter begins.

Sponsored by Talkspace

Military life is rewarding—but it can also feel overwhelming, especially when you're balancing deployments, family, career, and everything in between. Talkspace makes it easier to prioritize your mental health by connecting you with a licensed therapist from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Talkspace offers flexible, secure support designed to fit into busy lives.

Visit Talkspace.com to learn more.

Military life has a way of becoming part of who you are.

The moves. The friendships. The sacrifices. The sense of community.

So what happens when the retirement ceremony is over and your family’s chapter in uniform comes to a close?

In this episode of MilSpouse in the House, host Christie Nix sits down with Army veteran spouse, military mom, television producer, and Moving With the Military creator Maria Reed to talk about finding purpose after military life—and why service to the military community doesn’t have to end when active-duty service does.

Maria launched Moving With the Military nearly a decade ago after moving into what the Army called “vintage housing” at Fort Hood and realizing military families deserved better. After major television networks told her there wasn’t enough interest in a military-focused home makeover show, Maria took matters into her own hands—and built one herself.

Since then, Moving With the Military has completed nearly 90 home makeovers for military families across every branch of service.

But Maria says the real impact has never been about paint, furniture, or décor.

It’s about helping military families feel seen.

Together, Christie and Maria talk about how one home makeover grew into a larger mission, why former recipients often return to help the next family, and how military community can continue long after retirement.

They also connect over their shared experience as veteran spouses who still feel deeply tied to the military community, and Maria shares what it has been like watching her own son become the fourth generation in their family to serve.

Whether you’re still deep in active-duty life or approaching the next chapter, this conversation is a reminder that your military story doesn’t simply end when the uniform comes off—it can evolve into something new.

Key Takeaways

Your Military Story Doesn’t End at Retirement
Leaving active-duty life can change your role in the military community, but it doesn’t erase the experiences, relationships, and sense of purpose built along the way.

Sometimes You Have to Create the Opportunity Yourself
When television networks told Maria there wasn’t an audience for her idea, she stopped waiting for permission and launched Moving With the Military on her own.

Being Seen Matters
Families may receive a beautiful new space, but Maria says the message she hears most often is much simpler: “Thank you for seeing us.”

Community Creates a Ripple Effect
Families who receive makeovers often return to volunteer on future projects, turning one act of support into an ongoing cycle of service.

Military Families Have More in Common Than We Think
No matter the branch, many military spouses share the same challenges, transitions, and sense of connection that make this community unique.

Episode Links

Website: MovingWithTheMilitary.tv

Watch Moving With the Military on YouTube

Follow @MovingWiththeMilitary on Instagram for makeovers, military family stories, and ways to get involved.

Stay Connected

Follow: @ThisIsMilSpouses on Instagram

Read: The latest military spouse news, resources, and real-life stories at MilSpouses.com

Subscribe: MilSpouse in the House on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen!

Know a military spouse or veteran spouse wondering what comes next after military life? Share this episode with them—because sometimes the next chapter of service looks different, but the desire to give back never really goes away.

Sponsored by Talkspace

Military life is rewarding—but transitions, retirement, and the uncertainty of what comes next can also feel overwhelming. Talkspace makes it easier to prioritize your mental health by connecting you with a licensed therapist anytime, anywhere.

Now covered by TRICARE for eligible servicemembers, spouses, and dependents, Talkspace offers flexible, secure support that fits into military life.

Visit Talkspace.com to learn more.

Military spouses are experts at adapting.

We build careers around PCS moves. We reinvent ourselves after every relocation. We juggle deployments, childcare, changing jobs, and the unpredictable rhythms of military life. Somewhere along the way, many of us begin to wonder whether our own dreams are still possible—or whether we're somehow "unqualified" to pursue them.
In this episode of MilSpouse in the House, host Christie Nix sits down with Army Reserve spouse, actress, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and MBA graduate Miranda Roldán to talk about building a life that refuses to fit into one box.

Miranda is producing, directing, and starring in her new short film, Unqualified, a project inspired by the experience of being underestimated because your path doesn't look like everyone else's. It's a message that resonates deeply with military spouses, whose careers and ambitions are often shaped by circumstances beyond their control.

Together, Christie and Miranda explore what it means to pursue big dreams while navigating military life, motherhood, and frequent change. Miranda shares how she built a successful acting career—appearing in productions including Law & Order: SVU, The Blacklist, Netflix's Sirens, Hallmark's South Beach Love, and national commercials alongside John Cena and Rob Gronkowski—all while supporting her family's military journey.

They also discuss the guilt many military spouses feel when investing in themselves, why storytelling can be a powerful form of advocacy, and how redefining success starts with letting go of the idea that there's only one "qualified" path to achieving your goals.
Whether you've put a dream on hold, are considering a career pivot, or simply need a reminder that your ambitions still matter, this conversation is an inspiring reminder that military life doesn't have to be the end of your story—it can become part of it.

Key Takeaways

*Your Path Doesn't Have to Look Like Everyone Else's*
Military spouses often take unconventional career journeys. Those experiences aren't setbacks—they're part of what makes you uniquely qualified.

*Stop Waiting for the "Perfect" Time*
Life may never slow down enough to chase your dreams. Miranda shares why taking the first step now is often more important than waiting for ideal circumstances.

*Success Can Include Both Family and Ambition*
Supporting your servicemember doesn't mean putting your own goals on hold forever. It's possible to build a meaningful career while embracing military life.

*Storytelling Creates Change*
Whether through film, acting, or personal experiences, authentic stories have the power to challenge assumptions and help others feel seen.
Invest in Yourself Without Guilt
Military spouses often prioritize everyone else's needs first. This episode is a reminder that pursuing your own growth benefits not only you, but your entire family.

Episode Links
Website: MirandaRoldan.com
Learn More About Unqualified: MirandaRoldan.com/UnqualifiedTheFilm
Instagram: @MirandaRoldanTV & @unqualified_thefilm

Stay Connected
Follow: @ThisIsMilSpouses on Instagram
Read: The latest military spouse news, resources, and real-life stories at MilSpouses.com
Subscribe: MilSpouse in the House on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

Know a military spouse who's questioning whether they're "qualified" enough to chase a dream? Share this episode with them—because sometimes the encouragement we need most is hearing someone else's story.

Sponsored by Talkspace
Military life is rewarding—but it can also feel overwhelming, especially when you're balancing family, career, and everything in between. Talkspace makes it easier to prioritize your mental health by connecting you with a licensed therapist anytime, anywhere.
Now covered by TRICARE for eligible servicemembers, spouses, and dependents, Talkspace offers flexible, secure support that moves with you.
Visit Talkspace.com to learn more.