082 : Scotty's Little Soldiers Re-Release for Remembrance with founder Nikki Scott
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
Release Date: 11/06/2025
082 : Scotty's Little Soldiers Re-Release for Remembrance with founder Nikki Scott
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
Ahead of Remembrance Day, we are re-releasing one of the most poignant interviews ever recorded on The InDependent Spouse podcast. Host Jess Sands talks with the brilliant and inspirational founder, Nikki Scott, about the incredible journey that led her to create Scotty's Little Soldiers. Nikki shares the intensely personal and heartbreaking story of losing her husband, Lee Scott, who was killed in Afghanistan. She discusses the immediate aftermath, including the difficult decision of leaving the married quarter and the emotional weight of his repatriation. This conversation is a powerful...
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081 : Sewing a New Path: How a Business Course Changed Everything with Bekky from The Crafty Starfish
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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080 : Juggling it All with Major Jo Vann
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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079 : Felicity Mercer – From Political Life to Award-Winning Business Owner
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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078 : Uniting the Military Community and Shattering Stereotypes with PadWives Assemble
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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077 : From RAF Veteran to Neuro-Inclusion Advocate with Ria Jackson
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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076 : Building Community & Navigating Military Life with the Marama Alliance
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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075 : Advocating for Military Spouses with Camilla Howard
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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074 : Navigating Life's Roller Coaster with Alex Rickerby
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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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073 : Military Spouse Success: Finding "Enough" & Thriving in Chaos with Dr. Kathrine McAleese
The InDependent Spouse Podcast with Jess Sands
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...
info_outlineAhead of Remembrance Day, we are re-releasing one of the most poignant interviews ever recorded on The InDependent Spouse podcast. Host Jess Sands talks with the brilliant and inspirational founder, Nikki Scott, about the incredible journey that led her to create Scotty's Little Soldiers.
Nikki shares the intensely personal and heartbreaking story of losing her husband, Lee Scott, who was killed in Afghanistan. She discusses the immediate aftermath, including the difficult decision of leaving the married quarter and the emotional weight of his repatriation.
This conversation is a powerful exploration of grief, resilience, and the power of community, highlighting how Nikki transformed her pain into a mission to ensure bereaved British forces children can "smile again". We dive into the vital work of Scotty's Little Soldiers and how they support military children who have lost a parent, regardless of how they died.
Key Takeaways & Discussion Points
The Birth of Scotty's Little Soldiers: The idea was born on a family holiday nine months after Lee's death, when Nikki saw her 5-year-old son, Kai, smile and laugh again. This was her 'wake-up call' and the moment she realized she needed to help other children who had experienced the death of a parent who served.
The Mission: Helping Them Smile: Scotty's Little Soldiers is dedicated to supporting all bereaved British forces children from the Armed Forces community.
Support: An online bereavement service and resources to help families before they reach crisis points.
Lee's Legacy: Nikki remembers Lee, who was killed at age 26, as the fun parent and "everybody's friend" . She believes he would be "100% behind" the charity.
Resources and How to Connect
Scotty's Little Soldiers Website: Find information, donate, fundraise, or get support - https://www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/
"Scotty's is something that we don't ever want to have to use, but to know that our children have that if they need it means so much."