Show Notes

Summer is the perfect time for military families to explore new places, create lasting memories, and reconnect—but those adventures can quickly become expensive.

In this episode of Our Navy Life, host Teal Yost is joined by fellow Navy spouse Vicky Perkins, Vice President of Programs at Blue Star Families, for a conversation about one of the military community's most beloved summer benefits: Blue Star Museums.

Together, they discuss how the program provides eligible military families with free admission to more than 2,000 museums across the country each summer, making it easier to experience everything from children's museums and aquariums to science centers, art museums, and historic sites. Vicky also shares her own military spouse journey, discusses the broader mission of Blue Star Families, and explains why museums play such an important role in helping military families connect with the communities they call home.

Whether you're staying close to home this summer, traveling on leave, or settling into a new duty station, this episode will inspire you to discover affordable adventures wherever military life takes you.

Key Topics & Highlights

• Inside Blue Star Families

Learn more about the mission of Blue Star Families and the many programs the organization offers to support service members, spouses, caregivers, and children. Vicky also shares how feedback from military families helps shape programs that address real community needs.

• What is Blue Star Museums?

Discover how the Blue Star Museums program works, who is eligible, and why more than 2,000 museums nationwide participate each summer. From world-class art museums to local history museums and children's discovery centers, there's something for every family to enjoy.

• Making the Most of Summer

Whether you're PCSing, vacationing, or spending the summer at your current duty station, Vicky explains why Blue Star Museums is more than just a financial benefit—it's an opportunity to explore new communities, encourage lifelong learning, and make meaningful family memories.

• Why Museums Matter

Military families are constantly adapting to new places. Teal and Vicky discuss how museums can help children feel connected to their communities, inspire curiosity, and provide enriching experiences that the whole family can enjoy together.

Resources & Links

• Blue Star Families

• Blue Star Museums

• Find a Blue Star Museum

• Blue Star Families Facebook

• Blue Star Families Instagram

• ⁠Naval Services FamilyLine Website⁠

• ⁠NS FamilyLine Facebook⁠

• ⁠NS FamilyLine Instagram⁠

If this episode inspired your next family adventure, share it with a fellow military spouse, service member, or military family looking for affordable ways to explore this summer.

From our Navy family to yours—happy exploring, and we'll see you next time on Our Navy Life.

PCS Season 2026: What Military Families Need to Know—and the Best Tips We've Learned Along the Way

PCS season is here—and with it comes moving checklists, travel plans, housing searches, reimbursement questions, and more than a little chaos.

In this episode, Teal is joined by fellow Navy spouse and Naval Services FamilyLine Board Member Jessica Schecter for a conversation about the latest PCS updates military families need to know for 2026. Together, they break down new resources, travel reimbursement changes, childcare support programs, and practical tips gathered from years of navigating military moves themselves.

Whether this is your first PCS or your fifteenth, this episode offers helpful information, real-world advice, and a reminder that you're not navigating the process alone.

Key Topics & Highlights

The New PCS Website

The Department of Defense recently launched PPA.mil, a new centralized hub designed to help military families navigate the PCS process. Teal and Jessica discuss what families can find on the site, what it does—and doesn't—replace, and why having a single source for PCS information could help reduce confusion during moving season.

Important PCS Policy UpdatesSeveral policy changes accompanied the launch of the new PCS resource platform, including expanded claims filing timelines, new reimbursement eligibility for spouses and dependents during disrupted moves, and enhanced support during peak moving season.

PCS Travel Changes for 2026Mileage reimbursement rates, Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE), and per diem rules all look a little different this year. Teal and Jessica walk through the updates, including the expansion of TLE from 14 to 21 days for many CONUS moves and common budgeting mistakes families should avoid.

Childcare Transportation Reimbursement Pilot ProgramOne of the most spouse-friendly PCS updates in recent years could help families offset the cost of flying in a caregiver during a move. Learn who qualifies, what expenses may be reimbursed, and how this program acknowledges the very real childcare challenges many military families face during a PCS.

PCS Tips from Military FamiliesFrom protecting important documents to surviving temporary lodging and keeping track of household goods, Teal and Jessica share practical advice, lessons learned, and a few PCS confessions along the way.

PCS Lightning RoundWhat's the one thing you never let the movers pack? What's the most elite PCS survival skill? Teal and Jessica answer these questions and more in a fun, PCS-themed lightning round.

Resources & Links

• PPA.mil PCS Resource Website

• Military OneSource PCS Resources

• MilitaryChildCare.com

  
  

• Naval Services FamilyLine Website

• NS FamilyLine Facebook

• NS FamilyLine Instagram

If this episode helped you prepare for your next move, share it with a fellow military spouse, service member, or family getting ready for PCS season.

From our Navy family to yours — safe travels and smooth moves ahead.

S8 E3: Data, Advocacy & Real Support: Inside MFAN with CEO Shannon Razsadin

Who is truly speaking up for military families — and making sure their experiences lead to real change?

In this episode, Teal sits down with Navy spouse and CEO Shannon Razsadin to explore the impactful work of the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). From powerful data collection to direct, boots-on-the-ground support, MFAN is helping shape policies and resources that directly affect military families.

Together, they discuss how storytelling, research, and advocacy intersect — and why every military spouse’s voice plays a critical role in improving quality of life across the force.

Key Topics & Highlights

Turning Data Into Change

MFAN’s research, including the Military Family 360 Survey, captures the real experiences of military families and translates them into insights that inform policymakers and leaders.

Food Insecurity in Military Families

A critical issue affecting many in the community, MFAN’s findings have brought national attention to the challenges some families face — and the urgent need for solutions.

Emergency Grocery Support

During times of crisis, MFAN stepped in with direct assistance, providing tangible support to families in need when it mattered most.

Advocacy Made Accessible

Advocacy doesn’t require a policy background. Shannon shares how everyday spouses can speak up, share their experiences, and contribute to meaningful change.

Resources & Links

• MFAN Website

• MFAN Instagram

• MFAN Facebook

• NS FamilyLine Website

• NS FamilyLine Facebook

• NS FamilyLine Instagram

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow military spouse or friend. The more voices we amplify, the stronger our community becomes.

From our Navy family to yours — stay strong, stay connected, and stay mission ready.

25 Years of COMPASS: Navigating Navy Life with Confidence with NS FamilyLine COMPASS Director Susan FoxIf you’ve ever wondered who you’re supposed to call, ask, or trust when Navy life feels overwhelming — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Our Navy Life, host Teal Yost sits down with Susan Fox, Director of the COMPASS program at Naval Services FamilyLine, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of COMPASS — a spouse-to-spouse program that has helped Navy families navigate military life with confidence, clarity, and connection.

Susan shares her own journey as a Navy spouse and volunteer mentor, beginning with her first COMPASS class in Guam and continuing through years of service supporting spouses worldwide. Together, Teal and Susan explore how COMPASS equips families with practical knowledge, emotional support, and community — ensuring no spouse has to figure out Navy life alone.

Whether you’re brand new to the Navy, a seasoned spouse, or somewhere in between, this conversation highlights why COMPASS remains one of the most trusted resources in the Navy community.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The origin story of COMPASS

How a spouse recognized the need for Navy-specific

support and built a program that has served families for

25 years.

• What COMPASS actually is

  A peer-led, spouse-to-spouse program offering Navy Life 101 — from benefits and PCS moves to deployments and communication.

• Why the peer model works

  COMPASS creates a rank-free, judgment-free environment where spouses learn from lived experience and shared understanding.

• Confidence through knowledge

  Participants learn practical skills like reading LES statements, understanding entitlements, planning PCS moves, and navigating deployments.

• Connection beyond Google

  While information is online, COMPASS provides nuance, hands-on learning, and real human connection.

• Support during isolation and transition

  COMPASS helps spouses build confidence, friendships, and support networks after PCS moves and during deployment seasons.

• Why seasoned spouses still benefit

  Even experienced spouses gain new insights, updated policy information, and fresh PCS and deployment tips.

• Volunteer mentorship & giving back

  How spouses can become COMPASS mentors and make a tangible impact supporting fellow Navy families.

• How the program evolved for modern Navy life

  From curriculum updates to virtual sessions, COMPASS continues adapting to changing Navy policies and family needs.

• A powerful message for overwhelmed spouses

  You are not alone. There is a legacy of spouses ready to support you.

Resources & Links

• COMPASS Program Information

• NS FamilyLine Website

• NS FamilyLine Facebook

• NS FamilyLine Instagram

• COMPASS Instagram: @go.compass

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a spouse who is new, transitioning, or feeling overwhelmed. One conversation can open the door to confidence and community.

From our Navy family to yours — stay strong, stay connected, and stay mission ready.

Resources & Links

What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking with NYT Bestselling Author & Navy Veteran Spouse Caroline Chambers

If you’ve ever stood in front of the fridge after a long Navy day thinking, “I cannot make one more decision,” this episode is for you.

In this episode of Our Navy Life, host Teal Yost sits down with Caroline Chambers — New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, Substack creator, mom of four, and former Navy spouse — to talk about realistic cooking for real military life.

Caroline knows the Navy spouse season firsthand. After moving from New York to Coronado to be with her husband, a Navy SEAL, she launched a “fake-it-til-you-make-it” catering company built with other SEAL spouses — a pivot that eventually led to her bestselling cookbook, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking.

Together, Teal and Caroline unpack how food, community, and flexibility help military families survive deployments, solo-parenting seasons, PCS chaos, and everyday burnout.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• From Coronado to Cookbook: How Caroline’s Navy spouse life sparked her career in food media.
  

• Letting go of perfection: Why “just get everyone fed” beats gourmet every time — especially with kids.
  

• Time-honest cooking: How organizing recipes by real-world minutes builds confidence and removes intimidation from cooking.
  

• Busy-life hacks: Smart swaps, fewer ingredients, and grocery-store-friendly cooking for unpredictable schedules.
  

• Solo-parent survival strategy: Caroline’s realistic meal-prep system for deployment seasons and long workdays.
  

• Food as community: How dropping off meals, salad swaps, and potluck wins help spouses connect at new duty stations.
  

• Potluck MVP: Why showing up with a great salad (hello, the Dilly Chop) makes you unforgettable.
  

• Rapid-fire favorites: Clean-out-the-fridge meals, pantry must-haves, and comfort food when depleted.
  

• The truth about kids and dinner: Even a NYT bestselling author has nights where only one kid eats the meal.
  

Caroline’s message is simple and freeing: Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be doable.

Whether you’re in a deployment season, PCS transition, or just plain tired of cereal nights, this episode will leave you feeling supported, capable, and hungry in the best way.

• Book: What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking

• Newsletter / Substack: https://whattocook.substack.com

• Instagram: @carochambers

• Navy SEAL Foundation: https://www.navysealfoundation.org

If this episode helped you, share it with a spouse friend in the thick of Navy life — especially the one juggling deployments, kids, and the eternal “what’s for dinner?” question.

From our Navy family to yours — stay strong, stay connected, and stay mission ready.

Stay Connected With Us:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Holidays in the Navy don’t always look like the ones we grew up with. Instead of gathering around familiar tables, many military families find themselves creating new traditions thousands of miles from “home.”

In this episode, Teal Yost and guest co-host Kathryn Butler dive into what makes OCONUS holiday seasons both challenging and deeply meaningful. From KFC Christmas dinners in Japan, to Le Befana visiting children in Italy, to 12 grapes at midnight in Spain, to fireworks across Hawaii — they explore how Navy families adapt, connect, and rediscover the heart of the holidays wherever they’re stationed.

Whether you’re preparing for your first holiday overseas or reminiscing on duty stations past, this episode is a warm reminder that home is wherever our people are.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Getting to know Kathryn Hear Kathryn’s Navy journey, her OCONUS duty stations, and how living abroad shaped her family’s holiday traditions.

• What to expect during your first OCONUS holiday season Is it harder? More meaningful? A bit of both? Teal and Kathryn share their honest, lived experience.

• Japan’s unique Christmas celebrations – Christmas Eve as a couple’s holiday – Stunning seasonal illuminations – The iconic KFC Christmas dinner (yes, really!) – The New Year’s Emperor Greeting

• Italian holiday traditions – La Befana on January 5 – St. Nicholas Day on December 6

• Spanish celebrations – Twelve grapes at midnight for good luck – New Year’s red underwear tradition – Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes)

• Holidays in Hawaii Fireworks, celebrations, and island traditions that make the season unforgettable.

• Advice for families spending their first holiday overseas Teal and Kathryn share heartfelt guidance for navigating emotions, expectations, and new memories.

Whether you’re a new Navy spouse, a seasoned partner, or a supporter of the Navy community, this episode offers inspiration, history, and a reminder that you’re never navigating this life alone.

Stay Connected With Us:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram
  

As Veterans Day approaches, many of us see the familiar wave of “thank yous” in the form of discounts and freebies. But what if that appreciation didn’t stop on November 11th?

In this episode, host Teal Yost sits down with Navy veteran and active-duty Navy spouse Grant Vermeer to talk about Valor, a new app making military discounts automatic — no ID, no awkward ask, and no forgetting to mention your service at checkout.

Grant shares how Valor is transforming everyday shopping for service members, veterans, and military families by connecting them directly with local businesses that want to give back. He also opens up about his own journey from Naval Academy grad to veteran, to military spouse — and what Veterans Day means to him now from both sides of service.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Grant’s Navy journey and transition from active duty to military spouse
  

• Behind the scenes of The Academy Insider podcast
  

• How Valor makes military discounts automatic — no cards or conversations required
  

• Why the app launched in Coronado, CA and what’s next for nationwide expansion
  

• How Valor is helping small businesses give back to the military community year-round

Featured GuestGrant Vermeer is a Navy veteran, Naval Academy graduate, and active-duty Navy spouse. He’s part of the founding team behind Valor, a free app that automates military discounts and cashback for verified service members, veterans, and spouses. He also hosts The Academy Insider podcast, supporting midshipmen and their families through life at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Whether you’re a new Navy spouse, a seasoned partner, or a supporter of the Navy community, this episode offers inspiration, history, and a reminder that you’re never navigating this life alone.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Valor: www.joinvalor.com

• Download the Valor App: Available on the App Store & Google Play

• Listen to The Academy Insider podcast

Stay Connected With Us:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram