Hannah O'Brien sits down with military spouse and advocate Sarah Roder to break down the realities of military life, career disruption, and financial empowerment. Drawing from her unique journey through active duty, a 10-year transition and divorce, and remarrying into a 23-year military retirement, Sarah shares actionable strategies for military spouses facing the unknowns of service life.

Action Steps & Resources

1. Find a Career: Use the DoD's MSEP portal to connect with employers who actively recruit military spouses.
2. Get a Mentor: Sign up for American Corporate Partners (ACP) for a free, year-long career mentorship.

Master Your Money:

• Spousal IRAs: Unemployed or stay-at-home spouses can contribute up to $7,500 per year to an IRA in their own name.
• Protect the Family: Don't overlook stay-at-home partner life insurance or VA benefit realities.
• Start Small: Overwhelmed? Stop trying to fix everything at once. Write down your fixed monthly budget to get it out of your head and onto paper.

Trusted Guidance: Visit Armed Forces Mutual for military-specific financial calculators, transition timelines, and survivor support.

In this episode, host Hannah O'Brien welcomes Cathy Turner and Jacki Wojyack, the co-founders of the Restored Heart Collective. Born from their own personal journeys and a transformative experience at the Heroes and Horses program in Montana, Cathy and Jacki have created a unique space for military and veteran spouses to reconnect with themselves and each other.

Through a blend of peer support, nervous system education, and immersive nature experiences including sauna sessions and cold plunges, the Restored Heart Collective helps spouses break through isolation, identify personal triggers, and rediscover their core identity beyond their roles as partners and parents.

Resources & Links:

• Restored Heart Collective:
• Instagram: Connect with Cathy and Jacki for updates, community stories, and to DM them directly for questions.
• Website: Visit their homepage to find the application button for upcoming retreats.
• Book Recommendation: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (referenced for its insights on trauma-informed healing)

In this incredibly special and deeply personal episode, Hannah sits down with her husband, Cody—a Marine Corps veteran living with PTSD—to answer questions directly from the Veteran Spouse Network community.

Together, they pull back the curtain on the daily realities of navigating PTSD within a marriage and family. From tackling common misconceptions and managing unexpected triggers to understanding hypervigilance and building emotional safety, Hannah and Cody share the raw, honest, and hopeful truths of their journey. Whether you are a veteran, a military spouse, or someone supporting a loved one, this episode offers practical perspectives and a comforting reminder that you are not walking this path alone.

Disclaimer: This episode reflects Hannah and Cody’s personal experiences and is not intended to represent every veteran or spouse's unique journey.