071 : Nilma Dole-Williams - Ambassadors Wife
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Discover how diplomatic spouse Nilma Dole-Williams balances her role as an ambassador's wife with her passion for cricket and women's empowerment. Perfect for military spouses, armed forces wives, and entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses while navigating a mobile lifestyle. Empowering Military Spouses: The InDependent Spouse Podcast Looking for inspiration and support as a military spouse? The InDependent Spouse podcast is your one-stop shop for stories, tips, and a thriving community! Host Jess Sands chats with incredible military spouses achieving amazing things,...
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070 : Amanda Prowse - International Bestselling Author
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Author Amanda Prowse shares her journey from military life to home ownership, reflecting on the nostalgia and challenges faced during her husband's deployments. After starting her writing career at 40, she uses her experiences to inspire her books, including her newest book, "Swimming to Lundy," which explores grief and community following her brother's death. This is such a brilliant episode and I am so proud to be able to share Amandas story and her wonderful ideas for any aspiring Milspo author. Enjoy this one! It’s fab! Empowering Military Spouses: The InDependent Spouse...
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069 : Jess Sands - Building a Business Around the Juggle of Armed Forces Family Life
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Emma Gray hosts this very special episode blending business and military life, sharing Jess' journey as a business owner, military spouse, and new mum. Jess Sands founded the Milspo Network CIC in 2018 to support military spouses in business, offering networking, training, and community - but, it's been far from a smooth ride. Get to know Jess and why Milspo exists by listening to this unique episode of The InDependent Spouse podcast. Emma Gray is a widow, mother and solicitor (non-practicing), now helping others as an adulting coach, trainee counsellor and grief expert. Find her here ...
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068 : Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Lieutenant Commander (retired) Susie Hamilton.
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Jess Sands hosts a podcast on business and military life, aiming to inspire military spouses to become entrepreneurs. In this episode, she interviews Susie, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, who emphasises support for women veterans and bereaved families. The discussion highlights the gap between policymakers and the military community, stressing the importance of speaking up and providing feedback for improving support. Scotland demonstrates political will towards the armed forces, with Jess and Susie hopeful for positive changes and continued support. Empowering Military Spouses:...
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067 : Mia Harrington - Founder Handleys Stitch
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Handleys Stitch - Mia Harrington, a former Air Force Officer and current RAF wife, is the founder of Handly Stitched Soft Furnishings. Mia's journey from the military to creating curtains, blinds, lampshades, and cushion covers is inspiring, and a must-listen if you're in year one or have an idea for your business. Mia's story exemplifies the potential for post-military career success in entrepreneurship. Thanks to Mia for taking the time to share your story - Jess x Get your FREE business start-up guide HERE - The InDependent Spouse podcast was created to give...
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066: Helen Willamson - Financial Planner, Veteran & Milspo
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Jess Sands, a business owner and military spouse, hosts the InDependent Spouse Podcast, offering support to business-owning military spouses. In a recent episode, she interviewed Helen Williamson, a financial planner and ex-RAF veteran, emphasising the importance of financial planning for military spouses and self-employed individuals. Helen shares her journey of retraining as a financial planner after leaving the Air Force and advocates for more awareness of parental leave policies and flexibility in the military. The episode highlights the impact of military background on career choices and...
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065: Lizzie York - Founder - Cyclical Soul
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
Lizzie York is an RAF wife and business owner who runs Cyclical Soul, an online yoga platform promoting women's well-being. Cyclical Soul focuses on cyclical living and aligning with your hormonal cycle to enhance your overall health and self-care, and this episode is chock full of handy tips to achieve that, even if you feel you have limited time due to the juggle of military life. Lizzie shares her journey from personal struggles to a successful business rooted in self-care and serves as an inspiration for military spouses facing similar challenges. Listen along to why importance of...
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064: Emily Bailey - Founder - Just Tourism
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
I am Jess Sands, and this podcast is where all things business and armed forces life combine to inspire you in your modern military life. Welcome to the InDependent Spouse Podcast. Episode two of series six features Emily, a sustainable tourism consultant, discussing ways to make travel more eco-friendly. Emily is also the sustainability lead for Forces Wives Challenge and advocates for policymakers to support military spouses' careers and focus on sustainability. The InDependent Spouse podcast was created to give a voice to those who are most often hidden in the shadows of their brave,...
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063: Susan Bonnar - Founder - The British Craft House
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
I am Jess Sands, and this podcast is where all things business and armed forces life combine to inspire you in your modern military life. Welcome to the InDependent Spouse Podcast. Susan Bonner, a naval veteran and former military spouse, is a successful business owner of the British Craft House. Susan shares her own journey of starting her business and emphasises the importance of community, empowerment, and networking for small business owners. She also highlights the value of free resources and social media platforms for visibility and advertising. The British Craft House...
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062: The podcast is back! Could you be a guest?
The InDependent Spouse Podcast
I am Jess Sands, and this podcast is where all things business and armed forces life combine to inspire you in your modern military life. I'm a business owner, military wife, a new mum living in my Magnolia married quarter, running two successful businesses and creating the most impactful work of my life. But it wasn't always like this. When I first started my business, I was struggling to get started and wrestling with how to achieve my dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. I was desperately seeking inspiration and a network of people who just understood how it really feels to be a...
info_outlineWelcome back to The InDependent Spouse – and what an episode we have for you today! If you’re a business owner, you’ll know that as soon as we get past Halloween, there’s another scary event on the horizon – tax season! Luckily, I know the most fantastic accountant, who also happens to be a military spouse, and Milspo Ambassador – and that’s who I am talking to today.
But first off, a note from the sponsors, the Royal British Legion.
The Royal British Legion can offer you financial support. Whether it’s helping you manage your debt, setting up a new home or business, or just checking you and your family are getting the benefits you’re entitled to, they’ve got your back. Search RBL online or head to www.britishlegion.org.uk
My guest today, Caroline Hocking, is an expert in all things tax and HMRC, so it gives me great joy to be able to bring you this episode today, just as we start creeping towards that January HMRC deadline. But, don’t worry – this episode may be all about finances, but it is far from boring. In fact, you’ll get so much from this whether you have your own business or not – so grab a pen, take some notes, and enjoy this episode of The Independent Spouse podcast.
If you have any more questions, and you’re a military spouse, partner or other-half that has their own business, head over to the Milspo community on Facebook - facebook.com/groups/MILSPO – where Caroline will love to help.
And, if you are looking for an accountant, or indeed a bookkeeper, I have just launched a very exciting new Milspo search website called Find A Milspo – an online directory where you can now find partner-owned businesses all in one place. It’s over at findamilspo.co.uk, perfect for finding that next Milspo business and makes it just that little bit easier to directly support the Armed Forces Community.
So, that’s all from me for today. I will be back with another episode of The InDependent Spouse very soon, so I shall see you then.