Mission: Milspouse Podcast

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, KateLynn Heavilon speaks with Jenny Valderas: Senior Director of Family Support Services Rebekah Reyes: Volunteer Manager with Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront connects the American donor community to our military families through a robust array of valued and life-changing programs that address the specific short-term and Critical Financial Assistance, long-term stability, and recurring support needs they experience, Operation Homefront is able to help military families overcome many of the challenges inherent in military life. The result: stronger, more stable, and more secure military families.

Jenny Valderas is Operation Homefront’s Senior Director of Family Support Services. She has worked with the organization for more than a decade and in her current role, Valderas oversees the planning and execution of programs that address the unique needs and challenges faced by America’s military families, including the delivery of school supplies and holiday meals, and celebrating expectant parents and exceptional military children. Beyond her professional capacity, Valderas is also a military spouse, providing a distinct personal connection to the military community and Operation Homefront’s mission to create strong, stable, and secure military families. Valderas received a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University.

Rebekah first found Operation Homefront when as a military spouse, she needed help with holiday meals, toys, and critical financial assistance. When she was able to, she started at Operation Homefront as an AmeriCorps volunteer, became a regular volunteer, and in 2018 was hired as a full-time staff member. During her time working as a program coordinator, she planned and facilitated events in the Texas area such as Holiday Meals for Military, Back-to-School Brigade and Star-Spangled Babies showers. Rebekah helped volunteers coordinate pickups for designated Dollar Tree stores, write grant applications for monetary and in-kind donations, direct volunteers’ day of events, and set up event spaces. In 2021, Rebekah chose to move from a program delivery role to one on our volunteer services team and then eventually to Human Resources where she has continued to help others thrive while empowering others to help bring our mission to life. Outside of work, she gets to be a mom, stepmom, and role model to six amazing, beautiful children ranging in age from 7 to 28 years old. She supports her spouse, now a veteran, starting a new path as a counselor working with other veterans. On weekends, she volunteers at her local humane society, helping dogs and cats find forever homes. She has also returned to school and just finished her first semester toward earning an MA in Art Therapy.

To connect with Operation Homefront at:

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Jenny Valderas and Rebekah Reyes from Operation Homefront. We greatly appreciate your support. As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1052 Operation Homefront: Serving America’s Military Families first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, Kathleen Palmer speaks with Jennifer Beeston. Jennifer Beeston is a nationally recognized mortgage and real estate expert, celebrated for her commitment to financial literacy and consumer advocacy. In addition to being the #1 VA loan officer in America, her expertise extends across all loan categories, consistently ranking her in the top 1% of mortgage lenders nationwide. Jennifer’s mission is to make the complex world of home financing accessible to everyone—from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors—by providing clear, practical advice that empowers individuals to achieve their financial and homeownership goals.  

With over a decade of experience, Jennifer has been featured in major media outlets like _US News, Business Insider, Time,_ and _NBC News_ for her insights on mortgages, real estate, and personal finance. Her popular YouTube channel is a trusted resource for homebuyers and investors alike, offering easy-to-understand content on homebuying strategies, mortgage planning, and financial empowerment. 

To connect with Jennifer find her at:

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Jennifer Beeston. Nevertheless, we greatly appreciate your support. As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1051: VA Mortgage Benefits: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In today’s episode we take a look back in time to hear Kathleen’s experience of running the Army 10 miler last year, and invite you to join her this year if you are in the DC area and want to experience the capital in a way you have never seen it before.

KP Shares about her Wear Blue shirt, Wear Blue Run to Remember is a non profit on a mission to honor the service and sacrifice of the American military through active remembrance. You can find them here https://www.wearblueruntoremember.org/

“I plan to run the army 10 miler every year while we Are stationed in DC, and I am starting the Sexy Sloggers running  group. If you are interested in slogging with me next year, hit me up at [email protected]

We may start in the back, but no one keeps the sexy sloggers in the corner! Thanks for listening!”

Don’t forget that no matter where you’re at on your military journey, new or seasoned that we’ve been there and you are NOT alone. We’ve got your six!

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Kathleen Palmer. We greatly appreciate your support; as we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1048: Invitation To The Army 10 Miler & Experience first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In today’s episode, Amie Fisher, our Deputy Director at Mission: Milspouse, shares tips she has received on how to age like fine wine in military life and build wisdom without becoming salty or bitter due to the things you have overcome to reach this point. She dives into several key tips that you can apply to your military journey to help create a positive experience both for yourself looking back but also for those around you.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Amie Fisher. We greatly appreciate your support; as we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1047: Mini Cast – Becoming A Seasoned Milspouse… Without Becoming Too Salty first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, KateLynn Heavilon speaks with Sabrina Dalton about why mentorship matters. Heather is a Registered Dietitian, Air Force Spouse, and mom of 3. While moving with the military, Sabrina Dalton is the Deputy Executive Director for Military Mentors, a non-profit dedicated to elevating, educating and facilitating mentorship for the military affiliated community. Prior to her current role, she was the Director of Programs, where she oversaw Military Mentors mentorship fellowship program and annual conference. Sabrina is particularly interested in the role mentorship plays in building community and best practices to build a thriving peer mentorship culture within organizations. While her work with Military Mentors reaches the military affiliated community around the world, Sabrina also values leadership and connection closer to home.

In 2017, Sabrina was recognized as Key Spouse of the Year for Global Strike Command and she was selected as the 2024 AFI Los Angeles Air Force Base Spouse of the Year for her continued dedicated to her local military community . Sabrina continues to invest in the local communities, both military and civilian, that she inhabits, as her family criss-crosses the country due to her husbands military service. Sabrina graduated from the University of Colorado in 2018 where she earned a B.A. in Public Service with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Most importantly, Sabrina is a homeschooling mom to three fantastic kids and is a proud military spouse to Tyler, a United States Space Force Officer. She lives outside of Los Angeles, CA. Connect with Sabrina via social media @Milmentors on Instagram, @Military Mentors on Facebook and LinkedIn and via their website Militarymentors.org

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Sabrina Dalton. We greatly appreciate your support, as we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1046: Mentorship Matters first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

Join Mission: Milspouse Director of Podcast Production, KateLynn Heavilon as she interviews author David Preston. David graduated ” from Daphne High School in Daphne, Alabama in 1999. He attended Faulkner State Community College and the University of South Alabama, where he majored in Political Science. David has been a Business Owner, political columnist and Reporter. He ran for City Council in Daphne, Alabama at age 19 in 2000, loosing to an entrenched incumbent by less than 200 votes. David currently resides in Mobile, Alabama with his four dogs, Moonpie, Sampson Beauregard, Starla Grace, and Ziva. For fun, David likes to write and visit historical places and about learn about new people.

David’s debut novel, Unknown Soldier: World War tells the real life stories of the Alabama 167th National Guard unit’s service leading up to and during World War 1 in a fictional setting. Many of the men’s stories from World War 1 are lost in the books of history and over-shadowed by wars before and after, but these stories still deserve to be told. David is also currently working on other books and expanding his military stories into a series.

David Preston has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of his novel/book Unknown Soldier: World War 1. To enter the giveaway, leave the comment “Gone but never forgotten” on Davids’s podcast episode on any of the Mission:Milspouse social channels. The giveaway will close October 2nd, 2024.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring David Preston.  As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1045: Unknown Soldier: World War 1 first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, KateLynn Heavilon speaks with Heather Campbell on the topic of food insecurity. Heather is a Registered Dietitian, Air Force Spouse, and mom of 3. While moving with the military, Heather and her family experienced financial hardship and food insecurity when she couldn’t find work at their remote duty station. Her professional expertise in family and pediatric nutrition helped her family find solutions and she ultimately started teaching to other military families experiencing similar hardships. Now, as a recognized subject matter expert, Heather uses her professional expertise and lived experience to advocate for 1 in 4 military families burdened with food insecurity. As a nationally recognized leader, Heather has worked with members of Congress, military leaders, military spouses, local communities, and nonprofits. She is a sought-after speaker and writer who motivates action from others who are looking to create impact in their community. Connect with Heather via social media @GloryNutrition on Instagram, and Heather S Campbell- Advocacy Efforts on LinkedIn.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Heather Campbell. We greatly appreciate your support, as we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1044: How is Food Insecurity Happening in Modern Military Families? first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, Kathleen Palmer speaks with Jen McDonald. Jen is an award winning author with two published books, has features in anthologies, Chicken Soup For The Soul, Stars and Stripes, Military.com, Red Book, and Good Housekeeping. She also hosted the Milspouse Matters Podcast for more than 5 years. With more than 3 decades as a military spouse she leans on those experiences to provide support and empathy to military spouses. Jen is also a mother of four and grandmother who has now settled down in Texas and started a new adventure in fiction writing. Connect with Jen via social media @MilspouseMatters, @JenMcDonald88, @JenMcDonaldWriter  or via her websites: http://www.milspousematters.com ; http://www.jen-mcdonald.com

Jen is offering two book bundles to our listeners! There are two ways to enter the giveaway: You can email us at [email protected] with ” Milspouse Matters ” or ” You Are Not Alone ” in the subject line, or by commenting ” Milspouse Matters ” or ” You Are Not Alone ” on any of our posts regarding this episode on our social media channels. If you are selected as one of the winners you will have the choice of receiving BOTH of her books in print or Kindle edition.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Jen McDonald. Don’t forget the amazing giveaway opportunity that Jen has just for you! Nevertheless, we greatly appreciate your support. As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1042: You Are Not Alone first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

Join Mission: Milspouse Deputy Director of Marketing, Lindsey Rauch as she interviews Dr. Lisa Dunne  Author, Speaker, President of Chula Vista Christian University and Founder of the Academic Rescue Mission.

Dr. Lisa Dunne is an industry disruptor in the field of education. In addition to founding Chula Vista Christian University, she has launched 32 national K to 12 homeschool academies that are dedicated to rescuing the next generation from the toxic traits of traditional education. She is a dynamic, award-winning educator, author, and speaker with 25 years of classroom experience. She holds a Ph.D. in human development, as well as two Master’s degrees. Dr. Dunne is the author of several books, including The Multigenerational Marketplace, a guide to developing Christian communication competencies in the workplace, The Science of Social Influence, a primer on media’s insidious influence on identity, and Relating through the Lifespan, a Christian perspective on lifespan development and intergenerational mentoring. Her podcast is The Communication Architect (available on iTunes and Spotify), and her weekly radio show MindsetMatters can be heard every Saturday at 10:30pm on KPraise Radio. Her latest book, Outsourced: Why America’s Kids Need an Education Revolution, is available at OutsourcedTheBook.com and on Amazon. She has been married to her British husband, Adrian, for 33 years. They have two intelligent and compassionate homeschool graduates, Ethan and Cymone, who are their true résumé. Dr. Dunne finds great joy in coaching and teaching all generations, helping them discover God’s purpose and plan for their lives. ​

Connect with Dr. Dunne: www.AcademicRescueMission.com; http://www.CVCU.us

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Dr. Lisa Dunne.  As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1037: Homeschooling for Military Families first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.

In the latest episode of The Mission:Milspouse Podcast, Kathleen Palmer speaks with Anna Larson from Milspouse Transition. Anna Larson is an entrepreneur, copywriter, digital marketer, marketing strategist. Her newest adventure is the creation of a transition program designed specifically for military spouses, it is called Milspouse Transition. Milspouse Transition was created when a library card brought a military spouse to her knees in the hunt to find answers specific to military spouses in the process of transition from Active Duty to civilian life.  Anna is also passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, she hosts a short coffee chat live stream of best practices for small businesses, monthly events for The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE), and live streams twice monthly to provide community, conversation and support for military spouses with Spouse Link. She has also been featured in various publications, podcasts, and live streams.

Milspouse Transition is on a mission to help military spouses around the world navigate successfully out of active duty military life and on to finding new adventures. They do this by providing tools, resources, information, and community to support every military spouse the way they need it.

Get in touch with Anna and her resources at: https://milspousetransition.com/

Thank you for tuning in to this episode featuring Anna Larson. Nevertheless, we greatly appreciate your support. As we strive to align our guests with our mission, we encourage you to leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. After leaving a review, please send us a screenshot to [email protected] or DM us on Facebook. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @missionmilspouse for a special gift.

The post MMP #1041: The Milspouse Transition to Civilian Life first appeared on Mission: Milspouse.