Ruck Up Buttercup

Ruck Up Buttercup

Ruck Up Buttercup is a podcast for military spouses, service members, and military families, brought to you by the nonprofit Deployed Love. Join hosts who are military spouses as we share real stories, practical advice, and expert insights to help you navigate deployments, PCS moves, military family life, and daily challenges. Each episode highlights resources, tips, and guidance to help military families thrive. Whether you’re a new spouse or a seasoned veteran family, our mission is to inform, inspire, and empower—you’re not alone. Nonprofit site: www.deployedlove.org

  1. S6E14 Ruck Up Buttercup: Before the Breaking Point: Preventative Mental Health for Military Spouses

    Jun 7

    S6E14 Ruck Up Buttercup: Before the Breaking Point: Preventative Mental Health for Military Spouses

    In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, Ashley sits down with Patty Sandoval, Navy military spouse, public health professional, mom of two, and Founder & CEO of HomeFront Haven. Inspired by her own military spouse journey, Patty is on a mission to change how we support military spouses by focusing on prevention, connection, and peer-based mental health support before crisis hits. Ashley and Patty discuss the emotional labor military spouses carry, the challenges of deployment, isolation, postpartum struggles, and the pressure of "holding it all together." Patty shares how her experiences led her to create HomeFront Haven, an organization offering therapeutic retreats and year-long support designed to help military spouses build resilience, community, and lasting wellness. This honest conversation highlights the power of asking for help, finding connection, and prioritizing mental health throughout every season of military life. 💛 Real stories. Real struggles. Real strength. Connect with HomeFront Haven: https://www.homefronthaven.org 00:00 Welcome Back Update 01:55 Meet Patty Intro 03:28 Patty Military Journey 05:59 Isolation And IA Stress 08:04 Finding Therapy Support 09:16 Why Homefront Haven 14:07 Prevention And Retention 17:05 Tools For Tough Seasons 20:48 What Makes Them Different 26:45 Retreat Idea Origins 36:59 Retreat Details And Signup 40:58 Final Advice And Wrap Connect with Ashley at ashleybrown@deployedlove.org

    43 min
  2. S6E14 Ruck Up Buttercup- More Than a Milspouse: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Not Waiting with Moni

    May 31

    S6E14 Ruck Up Buttercup- More Than a Milspouse: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Not Waiting with Moni

    More Than a Milspouse: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Not Waiting with Moni Host Ashley returns to the Ruck Up Buttercup podcast after a break and welcomes back guest Moni, an Air Force spouse whose family recently transitioned out of the military and is navigating the learning curve of retirement and new insurance while enjoying reduced stress and more family stability. Moni shares her shift from building military life apps to growing a public relations agency and founding the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE) in 2019 to provide a verified, supportive, 24/7 online community for military spouse business owners focused on collaboration, resources, and making money. They discuss how entrepreneurship can address underemployment, identity challenges, and flexibility through validating offers, pivoting, volunteering to build skills, and using platforms beyond social media. Moni previews the third annual More Than a Milspouse Summit (Oct 7–9 in Arlington, Texas) and closes with advice: don’t wait. 00:00 Welcome Back Update 01:41 Moni Returns 02:56 Retirement Transition 05:17 From Apps to Agency 07:11 Why AMSE Started 11:26 Entrepreneurship Identity 14:27 AMSE Membership Portal 16:31 Elevating Spouse Voices 21:00 Social Media vs Community 24:32 Advice to Start Now 30:33 Volunteer To Break In 31:04 Self Taught Remote Skills 32:12 Winging It And Pivoting 34:35 Support Spouses Simply 34:59 Social Media As SEO 38:33 No Gatekeeping Community 40:17 Barriers And Passive Income 42:37 LinkedIn And Confidence 44:28 More Than A Milspouse Summit 51:13 Summit Details And Tickets 54:25 Final Advice Dont Wait Find Moni Here: Website: https://amseagency.com/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/amseage IG : https://www.instagram.com/amseagency/ncy LI :https://www.linkedin.com/company/assocofmilitaryspouseentrepreneurs/?viewAsMember=true TW: @theamseagency Reach Ashley at ashleybrown@deployedlove.org

    56 min
  3. S6E12 Ruck Up Buttercup: Building Bridges: A Community Focus on Supporting Military Spouses

    May 19

    S6E12 Ruck Up Buttercup: Building Bridges: A Community Focus on Supporting Military Spouses

    Building Community and Support with MilSpouse Fest Director Jessica Manfre Host Ashley welcomes Jessica Manfre to the “Ruck Up Buttercup” podcast to discuss supporting military spouses through connection, resources, and events like MilSpouse Fest. Jessica shares her background marked by early loss, meeting her Coast Guard husband young, experiencing isolation without a spouse network, and pursuing education and service, becoming a licensed clinical social worker who still sees military patients. She explains her path into military writing and then joining Recurrent’s military brands, ultimately becoming director of MilSpouse Fest in 2025. They describe MilSpouse Fest as a free, family-friendly event with a resource marketplace and community-building that reduces barriers like childcare and loneliness. Upcoming fests include Norfolk and San Diego, plus an international tour to Osan and Camp Humphreys in South Korea and Puerto Rico, with attention to bilingual support. Jessica’s advice: embrace new experiences and help pave the way for spouses coming behind you. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:50 Jessica’s Early Life 02:55 Coast Guard Spouse Reality 04:01 Finding Purpose in Service 04:33 Spouse Career Challenges 05:54 Ashley’s Military Brat Story 09:40 Why Community Matters 14:22 Joining MilSpouse Fest 17:13 First Fest Experience 21:55 Overseas Tour and Sponsors 23:38 Kids Welcome at Events 24:43 Raising Volunteer Kids 25:03 Military Community Then Now 25:18 Early Lessons in Service 25:57 Fisher House Memories 26:45 New Spouses Need Support 28:05 Collaboration Not Competition 29:05 No One Path Fits All 30:36 Fests and Guard Support 33:35 Take the Leap Solo 36:04 Use Resources and Show Up 40:48 Loneliness and Connection 41:24 Curating Help In Person 43:51 Deployed Love Origins 44:22 Volunteer to Find Purpose 48:08 Passing the Torch Forward 49:30 Advice Embrace the Yes 52:07 Closing Invite and Support Find us or reach out here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: ashleybrown@deployedlove.org More information on MilSpouseFest Website: https://milspousefest.com

    55 min
  4. Ruck Up Buttercup S6E11 Courageous Kids: Supporting Military Families Through Activity & Resilience

    Apr 19

    Ruck Up Buttercup S6E11 Courageous Kids: Supporting Military Families Through Activity & Resilience

    Our Military Kids: Activity Grants and Courageous Kids Recognition for Guard/Reserve Families During Month of the Military Child, the host of Ruck Up Buttercup interviews Kara, a retired Navy veteran, longtime military spouse, and executive director of Our Military Kids, about supporting children in deployed National Guard/Reserve families and families of combat-injured service members. Kara shares her own Reserve mobilization after 9/11 with young children and explains how Guard/Reserve kids are often dispersed and overlooked compared to installation-based active-duty communities. The organization provides year-round extracurricular activity awards (from sports and music to driver’s ed and unique options like Japanese sword fighting), sending a “top secret package” that includes payment to the provider and a thank-you loop to donors. Kara cites survey data showing high stress during deployment and highlights benefits like stress relief, routine, friendships, mentors, family wellbeing, and boosted service member morale. She also describes the annual Courageous Kids contest (550+ nominations; 26 winners) spotlighted on social media in April. 00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro 02:03 Kara Military Journey 03:44 Why Guard Reserve Need Support 06:18 Mission Roots And Impact 09:39 Activities As Lifelines 13:27 Stress Data And Success Stories 15:13 Host Military Kid Story 18:26 Connection And Family Morale 23:54 What Grants Cover 25:22 How To Apply And Package 27:43 Thank You Card Loop 28:24 Impact on Families 30:21 Unique Activity Requests 31:46 Guard and Reserve Support Gap 33:41 Courageous Kids Contest 38:46 How Winners Stand Out 42:14 Sharing Stories in April 45:12 What People Overlook 48:04 Advice and Resources 53:08 Final Wrap and Thanks Reach us at ashleybrown@deployedlove.org Reach Our Military Kids at Facebook.com/ourmilitarykids Instagram.com/ourmilitarykids Linkedin.com/ourmilitarykids

    55 min
  5. Ruck Up Buttercup S6E10 Finding Community Through Spouse Associations

    Apr 12

    Ruck Up Buttercup S6E10 Finding Community Through Spouse Associations

    Finding Community Through Spouse Associations at Fort Bragg In this episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, the host talks with Renata, a military spouse and president of the Association of Bragg Spouses, about why building community is essential in military life and how spouse associations can help. Renata shares her late-in-life transition into military spouse life, joining the club soon after arriving at Fort Bragg, and how volunteering helped her find identity and support. They explain the club’s two main functions: philanthropy (raising funds for scholarships, continuing education, and welfare grants for local nonprofits) and social connection (coffee meetups, book club, nights out, luncheons, and other events). They discuss misconceptions that spouse clubs are only for officers, stress the importance of participation and volunteering to keep programs running, highlight newsletters and upcoming resource fairs, and encourage spouses to take initiative, ask for accommodations like childcare when possible, and ignore negativity in online groups. 00:00 Welcome Back Update 02:22 Meet Renata 03:23 Her Spouse Journey 05:56 Finding Purpose Volunteering 08:26 Building Local Community 11:45 Breaking Club Stigmas 14:36 Club Culture Matters 16:47 Programs Scholarships Grants 20:01 Social Events Internal Clubs 23:00 Kids Childcare Inclusion 27:14 Just Show Up 37:13 Funding Fundraisers Pivoting 41:05 Fundraisers That Give Back 42:31 Flexible Volunteering For Parents 44:16 Solo Parenting Reality Check 46:02 Stop Comparing Journeys 47:01 Join Spouse Associations 51:49 Resource Fairs And Scholarships 53:42 Deployment Support All Seasons 56:48 Podcast And Positive Community 01:00:15 Resilience And Survival Mode 01:02:29 Finding Your Tribe After PCS 01:09:56 Volunteer For Purpose And Resume 01:23:17 Closing Encouragement And Next Steps

    1h 24m
  6. Ruck Up Buttercup S6E9 Spouse Chat from Service to Military Spouse

    Mar 24

    Ruck Up Buttercup S6E9 Spouse Chat from Service to Military Spouse

    Spouse Chat: Veterans on Becoming Military Spouses, Deployments, and the Comparison Trap In this “Ruck Up Buttercup” spouse chat, Ashley hosts Lara and Grant, both veterans now military spouses, to discuss the shock of switching from service member to spouse, especially the loss of control during deployments, constant changes and extensions, and the value of understanding military language and realities. They compare deployment life for service members versus spouses managing home responsibilities, careers, finances, and reintegration challenges, noting that reunions can feel unexpectedly awkward and require relearning routines. The conversation covers career disruption, PCS barriers, stereotypes and drama in spouse Facebook groups, and how social media fuels negativity and comparison. Key guidance includes planning with flexibility, not overplanning, communicating needs during separation and reintegration, seeking supportive community and resources, avoiding assumptions, and not measuring one’s experience against others because every military journey is different. 00:00 Meet The Spouse Chat 02:28 From Service To Spouse 05:08 Deployment Extensions Reality 09:33 Losing Control At Home 14:13 PCS Careers And Money 16:41 Grant Love Story 20:58 Reintegration And Resentment 27:50 Spouse Groups Culture Shock 34:27 Prior Service Pros And Cons 38:40 Stereotypes And Spouse Views 41:26 Purpose Beyond Background 43:31 Every Sailor Has A Story 46:58 Spouse Groups With Empathy 49:42 Stereotypes And Reality Check 53:43 Finding The Right Community 56:49 Creating Content To Help 01:01:15 Parting Advice On Flexibility 01:05:55 Reintegration And No Comparison 01:14:39 Resources Plugs And Farewell Find us or reach out here: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/DeployedLove Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: ashleybrown@deployedlove.org

    1h 19m
  7. Ruck Up Buttercup S6E8-Across Borders: Belonging in the Military Community

    Mar 16

    Ruck Up Buttercup S6E8-Across Borders: Belonging in the Military Community

    In this episode, we talk with **Lydia Owiti-Otienoh** — a Kenyan immigrant, attorney, military spouse, and founder of the **Foreign Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN)**. Lydia shares her journey of moving to the United States while her husband was deployed and the challenges, she faced adjusting to military life as a foreign-born spouse. From culture shock and isolation to career disruption and immigration stress, Lydia opens up about the realities many immigrant military spouses experience but rarely talk about. After struggling with depression, career loss, and navigating immigration restrictions, Lydia founded the **Foreign Born Military Spouse Network** to help other spouses overcome barriers through community, education, and support. In this conversation, we discuss: • The challenges of arriving in the U.S. alone while your spouse is deployed • Career setbacks and credential recognition for immigrant spouses • Immigration uncertainty and its mental health impact • The isolation many foreign-born military spouses experience • Why Lydia created the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network • The importance of community and support systems This episode highlights the invisible stressors many military families face and offers resources and hope for immigrant spouses navigating military life abroad. ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:00 Podcast Update 02:31 Meet Lydia 03:21 Solo Arrival Shock 05:12 Learning Military Life 08:25 Career Loss Depression 14:06 Immigration Anxiety 17:54 Invisible Stressors 19:14 Culture Money Driving 26:53 Founding FMSN 29:11 Discovering Resources 33:34 Finding Foreign Spouses 35:56 Isolation and Culture Shock 39:23 Why This Network Exists 42:57 Urgent Needs Right Now 43:54 Programs and Policy Gaps 47:38 From Online to Local Chapters 52:03 Reach Out to New Neighbors 58:55 Advice for Rebuilding Abroad 01:02:47 How to Join and Connect 01:05:26 Final Resources and Wrap If you found this conversation helpful, share it with someone who might need it. #podcast #militaryspouse #immigrantexperience #militaryfamily Find us or reach out here: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/DeployedLove Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: ashleybrown@deployedlove.org Find Lydiah or FMSN here: Website: http://fbmnetwork.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fbmsnetwork LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foreign-born-military-spouse-network Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fbmilspouse/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignbornmilspouses?lang=en Threads: https://www.threads.com/@fbmilspouse YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefmsnplug X:https: //x.com/fmsnetwork Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fbmilspousenetwork Email: lootienoh@fbmnetwork.org

    1h 7m
  8. Ruck Up Buttercup S6E7 Confidence in Every Season: Style, Identity & Military Life

    Mar 11

    Ruck Up Buttercup S6E7 Confidence in Every Season: Style, Identity & Military Life

    Style, Confidence, and Community: Practical Fashion Tips for Military Spouses with Laura The host of “Ruck Up Buttercup” rerecords an episode with Laura, a military spouse of 24.5 years nearing retirement, to discuss helping military spouses build confidence through personal style and community. Laura shares her story, her family’s Air Force spouse legacy, and how a difficult season in 2012 led her into personal styling focused on military spouses facing frequent moves, varying climates, cultural expectations, and unclear dress codes for military events. They discuss etiquette, dressing appropriately without drawing attention away from service members, and how clothing affects performance and self-perception. Laura recommends core capsule pieces (versatile dress, nice shoes, sneakers, well-fitting pants, blouse, blazer), advises trying items in-store, being mindful of fabrics and fit, using accessories for color, and finding mentors and supportive resources while avoiding negative online spaces. 00:00 Welcome Back Rerecord 03:22 Laura Military Journey 07:59 Why Style Matters 09:57 Event Dress Etiquette 18:09 Moves Change Wardrobes 21:41 Enclothed Cognition 28:36 Find Your Style Words 30:26 Try It In Store 35:26 Confidence Self Care 40:42 Capsule Wardrobe Basics 42:29 Must Have Pieces 45:18 Thrifting Next Steps 45:25 Thrifting Without Regret 46:16 Guilt on a Hanger 46:57 Fabric and Wrinkle Reality 49:16 Try On and Texture Test 50:20 Find Your Go To Stores 53:09 Custom Color Analysis 54:47 Wear Your Colors Anywhere 56:32 Third Piece Style Hack 58:06 Mentors and Spouse Networks 01:11:40 Resources and New Normals 01:13:28 Choose Yourself and Grow 01:18:51 Encouraging Voices Only 01:22:54 Final Wrap and Thanks Find Laura here: Email: laura@wherelifemeetsstyle.co Website: https://www.wherelifemeetsstyle.co/ Insta: www.instagram.com/wherelifemeetsstyle.co FB: www.facebook.com/wherelifemeetsstyle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralongmire Find us or reach out here: Find us or reach out here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: ashleybrown@deployedlove.org

    1h 24m
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Ruck Up Buttercup is a podcast for military spouses, service members, and military families, brought to you by the nonprofit Deployed Love. Join hosts who are military spouses as we share real stories, practical advice, and expert insights to help you navigate deployments, PCS moves, military family life, and daily challenges. Each episode highlights resources, tips, and guidance to help military families thrive. Whether you’re a new spouse or a seasoned veteran family, our mission is to inform, inspire, and empower—you’re not alone. Nonprofit site: www.deployedlove.org

Information

  • Creator
    Ruck Up Buttercup
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Ruck Up Buttercup