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The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
Release Date: 02/22/2024
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
Welcome to the final episode of Series 7! This week, I’m joined by Bekky, a Navy wife, mum of three, and a graduate from the Milspo Business Start-Up course. Bekky shares her incredible journey from feeling lost and lonely as a new military partner to building her own thriving business, The Crafty Starfish. We discuss the unique challenges military spouses face, such as frequent moves, deployments, and the general chaos of service life, and how she overcame them to create a business that is uniquely her own.Join us to hear Bekky share her inspiring story of overcoming the loneliness...
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Welcome back to The InDependent Spouse Podcast! In this episode, your host Jess Sands dives into the inspirational world of Major Jo Vann – a true multi-hyphenate who redefines what it means to juggle military life, motherhood, and a thriving business. Jo is not only working full-time in the British Army with a serving husband and two children, but she also runs a stunning boutique hotel in Amesbury called "A Little Place." Jess was lucky enough to visit this beautiful Georgian property, which she describes as something out of a Jane Austen novel. In this conversation, Jo shares how her...
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Welcome back to The InDependent Spouse podcast! In this particularly exciting episode, Jess Sands sits down with the brilliant Felicity Mercer, wife to Johnny Mercer, who has navigated the unique challenges of armed forces life, the intense world of politics, and is now an award-winning business owner. We cover it all, from meeting Johnny Mercer (MP and former Minister for State for Veterans Affairs) as children, reconnecting as adults when he was serving in Afghanistan, to supporting him through a whirlwind political career. Felicity shares candid insights into the realities of being a...
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Join Jess Sands in this inspiring episode of The InDependent Spouse as she welcomes the incredible duo behind the award-winning podcast, Pad Wives Assemble – Sophs and Kirsha! Tune in as they dive into the realities of modern military life, discussing everything from building a supportive tri-service community to challenging outdated stereotypes about military spouses. Sophs and Kirsha share their journey of creating Pad Wives Assemble, born from a desire to provide a fun, safe, and inclusive space for armed forces families to connect and feel heard, with a few giggles along the...
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Welcome to another inspiring episode of The InDependent Spouse Podcast! In this episode, your host Jess Sands sits down with the phenomenal Ria Jackson, an RAF veteran, founder of "The V Word," and CEO of Inclusive Minds UK. Join us as Ria shares her extraordinary journey of self-discovery and resilience, and learn about her mission to champion neuro-inclusion. Episode Highlights: A "Squiggly Career" in the RAF: Ria shares her 12-year journey in the military, starting as a mover and ultimately pivoting to become an avionic engineer on Typhoons. She discusses how her diverse...
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In this inspiring episode, host Jess Sands welcomes Lulu from the Marama Alliance, a vibrant community dedicated to supporting Fijian women and their families in the UK armed forces. Lulu shares her personal journey of moving from Fiji to the UK as a military spouse, facing challenges like adapting to a new climate and navigating unfamiliar systems like working in the UK, opening bank accounts, and that pesky married quarter heating. This episode highlights the incredible resilience and unity of the Fijian military community and the vital role Marama Alliance plays in helping these...
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Welcome to The InDependent Spouse podcast, your go-to place for inspiration and support in navigating modern military life. In this episode, host Jess Sands sits down with the incredible Camilla Howard: an RAF veteran, an Army spouse, a forces child, and a dedicated advocate for the military spouse community. After 12 years in the RAF, Camilla transitioned to a civilian career with Compass Group UK and Ireland. She details how her passion for supporting military families led her to co-chair Compass Group's Armed Forces network, a role that allows her to champion initiatives for spouses and...
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Join Jess Sands in this inspiring episode of The InDependent Spouse Podcast as she chats with the incredible Alex Rickerby. Alex, a career coach for the Forces Employment Charity and a private coach in the tech sector, shares her remarkable story of balancing a high-powered career with the unique demands of military life, motherhood, and unexpected challenges. In this episode, you'll hear about: A Powerhouse Career Before Military Life: Discover Alex's impressive professional background, including her years at The Telegraph and her impactful role as a Senior Industry Head at Google,...
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This week on The InDependent Spouse, host Jess Sands welcomes the inspiring Dr. Kathrine McAleese for a deeply insightful conversation about navigating the demands of modern military life while striving for personal and professional fulfillment. This episode is a must-listen for any military spouse seeking to find success on their own terms and reclaim their joy amidst the beautiful chaos of armed forces life. Dr. Kathrine McAleese, a psychotherapist and sociologist by background, specializes in helping high-achievers find a "deliciously satisfying life" that prioritises what's actually...
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Welcome back to The InDependent Spouse, and get ready for authentic stories and amazing inspiration from the military family! In this candid chat, Jess sits down with the incredible Lady Caitlin Knighton, wife of the Chief of the Air Staff and a brilliant family lawyer. If you've ever felt the squeeze of balancing military life with family and work, this episode is for you. Lady Knighton shares her journey of "muddling through" the rollercoaster of armed forces life, offering invaluable tips for navigating the unpredictability and finding your footing, even when you don't know where...
info_outlineI 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 military spouse in business. Fast forward today, I am not only growing my business year after year, but also teaching others how to do it too, all whilst being surrounded by inspirational mill space.
I'm here to help business owning military spouses, partners, and other halves just like you go from overwhelmed, isolated, and uninspired dependence into confident focused entrepreneurs, ones who are building sustainable businesses that not only survive, but thrive in this modern military world. I'll help you build a sustainable business or side hustle that also creates an impact, changes your life, and gives you all of the freedom to become what you were born to be.
Welcome to the Independent Spouse Podcast.
Oh my goodness. Hello, it's me. I hope you're keeping well. It has been a long time since I did a podcast episode, but happily, the podcast series is coming back. It is heading your way soon, and I am looking for some new guests. So if you are a Milspo that's a military spouse, partner, or other half running your own business, creating an amazing project, doing something completely epic that you think others should hear of, then just get in touch.
Email me at [email protected] and I'll get back to you. This next series is going to be brilliant. I've already got a few guests lined up. They are so inspirational and so creative and they really are showcasing how brilliant life can be as a military partner.
We all know it's really tough. We probably all know that it's getting a little bit worse, and we know that the support's not out there where it should be. So that's why this podcast exists. It's to show that military life isn't always doom and gloom. There are positives. You just need to go out and find them. So if you think that's you, if you have an inspirational story or want to share something completely wonderful, please do think about it. Don't be frightened. You have a valid story that will make a difference in other people's lives. So come and share it. It's a great platform. It's had almost 20,000 downloads, so it's a brilliant and cost-effective way of sharing your wonderful news. Don't be worried about it.
We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, I'll be over in the Milspo group that's on Facebook. It's our close group full of military spouses, partners, and other house running their own businesses. We get together to collaborate. We network. We just help each other build amazing businesses because that is what it's all about. It just means that we lift everybody up just to have something that's completely yours that you can take with you no matter where military life takes you.
So come and join us. It'll really help you build your business or your side hustle, or your projects or whatever you're up to. We are a lovely, friendly bunch who can't wait to see you succeed and help you celebrate. So there it is. My little challenge to you. If you want to be on the podcast, get in touch with me now.
Head over to the Milspo Facebook group and join us and generally just keep going. Military life is tough, but we can do it, especially with a little bit of help and support. I will see you next time for a new episode of The Independent Spouse Podcast.
The InDependent Spouse podcast was created to give a voice to those who are most often hidden in the shadows of their brave, serving military partner and who are achieving amazing things. Since 2018, Jess Sands has been sharing these stories, alongside building the Milspo® Community – a network of over 1,400 military spouses, partners and other halves who are building epic businesses that THRIVE, not just survive in a modern military world.
If you’re looking for further inspiration why not join our community and connect with others – https://www.facebook.com/groups/MILSPO
Read Jess’ latest Book – Building Business Beyond the Magnolia Box: Inspiration for entrepreneurs living in a modern military world – https://amzn.eu/d/3ASq6VT
Or, join our Milspo Membership, the Inner Circle. The best business incubator to help build your business or side hustle - https://milspo.co.uk/milspo-inner-circle-waiting-list/
Milspo®, The InDependent Spouse®, findamilspo and The Milspo Inner Circle are all part of the Milspo Network CIC - a volunteer organisation and social enterprise built by the serving spouses, partners and other halves of ALL UK military personnel to support the community's entrepreneurial endeavours. We get it because we live it every day, and we want everyone to find inspiration, support and a community that helps make military life a little bit better - a rising tide lifts all boats.
Founded in 2018, the Milspo Network CIC has been built on the goodwill of its members and the support of its volunteers. After a series of failed funding bids and a struggle to change the narrative of why this community needs that extra bit of support, we are now looking for sponsorship or financial help so that Milspo can continue to provide into 2024.
Please do spread the word or connect us with those who would like to make a difference and directly support the military family, a community at the heart of the UK Armed Forces and all it does.