Ruck Up Buttercup

Season 4 Episode 9 Military Spouse Advocacy Network. On this week’s episode of Ruck Up Buttercup we speak with Verenice Castillo the Founder and CEO of Military Spouse Advocacy Network. She tells us her story of coming from a different country to having to adjust to being a US Military Spouse. She, like all of us, felt out of place, and pretty isolated, but realized that doesn’t have to be the case. She founded MSAN in order to create a space where spouses could support each other by mentoring each other through different situations. They now have 3 important aspects of their non-profit. 1. Mentorship- With trained, and certified mentors available 24/7 no matter if you are new to the military, going through your first deployment, struggling through a transition, or even a veteran spouse there is someone there for you to talk to. 2. Leadership Training- Not everyone wants to be a volunteer but EVERYONE is a leader in their own way. With this well sought after training available to a group of spouses each year, more amazing opportunities will open up to those who seek them. 3. The Hub- Think social media but better. A secure platform with only military spouses who want to support each other. For more information about MSAN: https://www.militaryspouseadvocacynetwork.org/ To reach us: www.deployedlove.org/podcast www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Now on Youtube and Tiktok too just look up Ruck Up Buttercup. Email: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org

Season 4 Episode 8 Fisher House Foundation On this week's episode of Ruck Up Buttercup we had the opportunity to speak with Mary Considine, the Chief of Staff for the Fisher House Foundation. She has been with this amazing organization for 20 years and has seen them grow from only a handful of houses to being on their journey to building the 100th house hopefully later this year. Fisher House Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 that provides a home away from home for military families when they are having a medical situation. Located next to hospitals and Va’s nationwide, they provide a free place to allow families to visit, and support each other during times of medical need. They also provide support to Gold Star families during that process. On top of their many houses, they also have other programs that help pay for flights, as well as hotels as the need may arise. As well as some really great scholarships for students as well as spouses to help support the future of families in the military community. If you find yourself with a little free time and are interested in serving others in the military community there are many volunteer opportunities you can look into at a Fisher House near you. We're available to answer any questions listeners may have, and of course, tons of info is available at our website: www.fisherhouse.org Here are some quick links for show notes: Fisher House locations (for volunteering opportunities, too): https://fisherhouse.org/programs/houses/current-houses/ Hard copy directory of all house locations: https://site.production.v3.fisherhouse.org/site/media/210733/fh_directory-_january_2024.pdf Video about how to stay at a Fisher House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTX-YwzBNc0&t=19s Virtual tour of a Fisher House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9MzEef3rUc Interview with Jessica Lynch about her family staying at Fisher House: https://youtu.be/FDbAwz_uueQ?feature=shared Hero Miles program: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/hero-miles/ Hotels for Heros program: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/hotel-for-heroes/ Scholarships: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarship-programs/ We didn't get this on-air, but here's the Scholarship Search Engine I mentioned: https://search.militaryscholar.org/ At, last but not least, the donate link: https://connect.fisherhouse.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1 Find Ruck Up Buttercup here: www.deployedlove.org/podcast www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Tiktok: Ruck Up Buttercup Podcast Email for more information or to be on the show: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org

On this week’s episode of Ruck Up Buttercup we had Lauren Lomsdale from The Work From Home Milspo on the show. She told us all about the different things she offers through her website and programs. And we discuss how military spouses can get involved with working from home. Being able to work from home is an opportunity that not everyone has but as a military spouse is a career that actually fits pretty well with our frequently moving lifestyle. We talk some benefits, and challenges of working from home. To read more about The Work from Home Milspo be sure to check out Lauren’s Website here: https://thewfhmilspo.com/about/ Find us Here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast

On this week’s episode of Ruck Up Buttercup we are having a girl chat about what it means to slow down and honor the season of life you are in currently. Military life can be so hectic and there is always that “what’s next” mentality. But sometimes you really need to slow down, put your feet up and enjoy what you are doing now!! Find us Here: Website: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast

Season 4 Episode 5 United Through Reading On this week's episode we are spot lighting a well known resource in the military community. United Through Reading; Vice President of Marketing and Communications. She spent this time with us explaining the amazing program of United Through Reading, where your service members can record themselves reading to you or your kids and then you are able to access the recordings during deployments. We talk about really creative and outstanding ways to use this resource to keep the connection with your military members as well as family members when you are stationed far away. For more information check out United Through Reading here: https://unitedthroughreading.org/ Find us: Website:www.deployedlove.org/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org

Season 4 Episode 4 The Organized Military Life On this week’s episode of Ruck Up Buttercup, we have the lovely Jana Arevalo from The Organized Military Life. She has grown a beautiful community for military families to find support, tips, and ideas on how to keep their military life organized. From blog articles about specific topics like PCS, and Decluttering, to Monthly calendars with Decluttering challenges Jana has some amazing resources you just need to hear about. She joined us today to give us some insight into how to find an organization system that will fit into your life. Military life really makes this part of life challenging. We move from house to house regularly and trying to make your things fit into different houses is not easy. Enjoy this episode and some great insight into making things easier. Find Jana for more information: https://theorganizedmilitarylife.com/ Find us: www.deployedlove.org/podcast www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email the show: SabrinaJohannes@deployedlove.org

This week on Ruck Up Buttercup we had the lovely Tara Brown as a guest to give her perspective on living overseas with kids. We talk about school, living with different cultures, experiences your kids will have, as well as Travel Travel Travel. We hope that if you are considering moving overseas this will give you a better idea of what to expect, and answer any questions you may have. You are surrounded by awesome military families who will have lots of stories and suggestions. Join our Facebook Group Deployed Love-Hearts Connected and you can grow your community across the world. Find us here: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Website: www.deployedlove.org Email: sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org

In this episode we are talking about a subject that is really hard to approach. We know that our military members need to have good mental health in order to most effectively complete the mission. However, the military also comes with many different types of trauma. From basic training to deployments each person experiences things that will affect how they portrait the world going forward. Unfortunately for a lot of military members they are going to suffer from PTSD, Anxiety, or Depression. We are hopeful that mental health will continue to become a more talked about topic as you will hear from our guest Lara Brown-Akerstrom today that sadly it’s not always approached as it should. We all know the all to daunting statistic of 20 veterans per day die by suicide as a result of lack of treatment or failed treatment for mental disorders. (Mental Health First Aid) We hope by speaking on the issue, it will bring more awareness and hopefully reach the concerned ears of the right person. As military spouses this isn’t a statistic to us, this is our spouses, and our friends they are talking about. Suffering in silence and waging a war inside their heads that we can’t see. Reach out to your military family, keep in contact, know the signs and suggest resources. Because although you may feel annoying and persistent, there is something to be said for simply having people acknowledge your struggle. Resources: Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/veterans-military/ Cohen Clinic: https://centerstone.org/cohen-military-family-clinic/ Military One Source: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/ Brandon Act: https://thebrandonact.org/ Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/ Wreaths Across America: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ Fischer House: https://fisherhouse.org/ Gold Star Families: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/casualty-assistance/survivor-support/honoring-gold-star-families/ Contact us: Email: Sabrinajohannes@deployedlove.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast

So you hear our voices every episode, today we are answering questions about ourselves to let you get to know us better. From New Years goals to honest insight into how hard in your 30s it can be to endure a PCS and trying to make new friends!! We are so grateful for you all being part of the show over the last 3 years and we would love to get to know even more of you. If you would like to come on the show and tell us about your military story please let us know!! Reach out to us here: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruckupbuttercup Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruckupbuttercuppodcast Email: SabrinaJohannes@deployedlove.org

On this week's episode Sabrina and Ashley talk about how you can use technology as well as other great things to keep relationships strong when you aren't near each other. Building and keeping relationships in your life that are important to you while living the Military Life can often be challenging, but are worth the time and effort. You love these people and though you aren’t just down the street, allowing yourself to schedule time to chat, play a game, visit, and connect will make all the difference when you do leave this season of life. Reach us: Ruck Up Buttercup: www.deployedlove.org/podcast Email: sabrinajohannes@deploydlove.org