The InDependent Spouse Podcast Jess Sands : Podcast Host, Business Owner and military wife

I am Jess Sands, and this podcast is where all things business and armed forces life combine to inspire you in your modern military life. I'm a business owner, military wife, a new mum living in my Magnolia married quarter, running two successful businesses and creating the most impactful work of my life. But it wasn't always like this. When I first started my business,
I was struggling to get started and wrestling with how to achieve my dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. I was desperately seeking inspiration and a network of people who just understood how it really feels to be a military spouse in business. Fast forward today, I am not only growing my business year after year, but also teaching others how to do it too, all whilst being surrounded by inspirational mill space.
I'm here to help business owning military spouses, partners, and other halves just like you go from overwhelmed, isolated, and uninspired dependence into confident focused entrepreneurs, ones who are building sustainable businesses that not only survive, but thrive in this modern military world. I'll help you build a sustainable business or side hustle that also creates an impact, changes your life, and gives you all of the freedom to become what you were born to be.
Welcome to the Independent Spouse Podcast.
Oh my goodness. Hello, it's me. I hope you're keeping well. It has been a long time since I did a podcast episode, but happily, the podcast series is coming back. It is heading your way soon, and I am looking for some new guests. So if you are a Milspo that's a military spouse, partner, or other half running your own business, creating an amazing project, doing something completely epic that you think others should hear of, then just get in touch.
Email me at hello@milspo.co.uk and I'll get back to you. This next series is going to be brilliant. I've already got a few guests lined up. They are so inspirational and so creative and they really are showcasing how brilliant life can be as a military partner.
We all know it's really tough. We probably all know that it's getting a little bit worse, and we know that the support's not out there where it should be. So that's why this podcast exists. It's to show that military life isn't always doom and gloom. There are positives. You just need to go out and find them. So if you think that's you, if you have an inspirational story or want to share something completely wonderful, please do think about it. Don't be frightened. You have a valid story that will make a difference in other people's lives. So come and share it. It's a great platform. It's had almost 20,000 downloads, so it's a brilliant and cost-effective way of sharing your wonderful news. Don't be worried about it.
We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, I'll be over in the Milspo group that's on Facebook. It's our close group full of military spouses, partners, and other house running their own businesses. We get together to collaborate. We network. We just help each other build amazing businesses because that is what it's all about. It just means that we lift everybody up just to have something that's completely yours that you can take with you no matter where military life takes you.
So come and join us. It'll really help you build your business or your side hustle, or your projects or whatever you're up to. We are a lovely, friendly bunch who can't wait to see you succeed and help you celebrate. So there it is. My little challenge to you. If you want to be on the podcast, get in touch with me now.
Head over to the Milspo Facebook group and join us and generally just keep going. Military life is tough, but we can do it, especially with a little bit of help and support. I will see you next time for a new episode of The Independent Spouse Podcast.

Milspos, entrepreneurs and dreamers, listeners old and new, welcome back to the InDependent Spouse podcast! I'm thrilled to announce, with a heart full of excitement, that I'm back in action! So, put on your headphones, turn up the volume, and get ready for an inspirational episode.
Have you ever felt the surge of inspiration that comes with discovering a new book? Well, get ready to experience that and more. Our podcast is embarking on a captivating mini-series, one that's ignited by the pages of the book, "Building Business Beyond the Magnolia Box."
This mini-series is not just about storytelling; it's about transformation. Imagine delving into the core of business principles, guided by the wisdom contained within those pages. We're not just exploring theories but uncovering practical insights that can reshape your entrepreneurial journey.
Throughout this series, you'll have the unique opportunity to not only learn about the book itself but also to step into the world of Milspo.
And that's not all – we're giving you a choice, a moment of introspection. As you listen to each episode, you'll find yourself at a crossroads, a juncture where you'll be prompted to reflect on your journey as a Milspo business owner. What kind of legacy do you want to create? What values will guide your path? This mini-series isn't just about passive listening; it's about actively engaging with your entrepreneurial identity.
So, whether you're a seasoned business owner looking for fresh perspectives or someone who's just dipped their toes into the world of entrepreneurship, this mini-series is tailored for you. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and empowered. Get ready to take that step forward on the path to becoming the kind of Milspo business owner you aspire to be.
The wait is over, and the journey begins now. Stay tuned for episodes filled with insights, stories, and a dash of that special "Building Business Beyond the Magnolia Box" magic. This is more than a podcast; it's an invitation to join a community of visionary doers. 
If you're as inspired as we are, don't forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss a moment of our mini-series journey. Remember, the book "Building Business Beyond the Magnolia Box" is your guiding star, and we're here to help illuminate its brilliance. Stay tuned for the next episode, and until then, keep dreaming, keep building, and keep shining!

Hello you lovely lot, today I am chatting to the fab Nicola from Made with Mud. Nicola has a fascinating story about her business and how social media has both helped and hindered her business in the most dramatic way.
But first, a little mention of the sponsors of this series – the RBL.
After 100 years of supporting the Armed Forces community, the Royal British Legion understands and recognises the challenges faced by serving people and their families. That’s why they’re still here to support us in any way they can. From financial support to housing advice, or just someone to chat to outside of the chain of command or patch, they will continue to fight for us 365 days a year. Head to their website for more information or to get involved in their centenary celebrations www.britishlegion.org.uk
The following interview is a fascinating and open conversation with Nicola, who explains how social media has helped her business, but almost bought her to the point of deleting it all. It’s one of those stories that blew my mind when I spoke to her, and I still can’t quite believe how bad it got for her – but mixed in with that is so much positivity and hope. Thank you to Nicola for sharing such a personal story and helping end this podcast series with your remarkable story.

Hello, you wonderful lot, today’s podcast is all about the power of networking, and it’s great to be able to share with you the interview that I did with the fantastic Carrie Moss from the Military Matchmaker.
But, before we get stuck in a little message from the RBL, who sponsor this series.
The Royal British Legion offers all members of our Armed Forces community support. But we also understand that sometimes what’s needed is just a bit of advice. So whether it’s recommending specialised services, advice on housing, finances, or employment, they’ve got your back. Head to www.britishlegion.org.uk to find out more.
Carrie is the owner of Military Matchmaker and an amazing networker – she knows everyone!  Not only is she an incredible asset as an Ambassador for the Milspo network she is my go-to guru when I need help finding and connecting business owners.
In this episode, we talk about her military life as an Army wife and the importance of networking for business. You’re going to really enjoy this one!
 
If networking is something that you would like some support with, especially if you’re struggling to build one because of military life, you’re going to love the Milspo network. It’s an online global network of over 1,200 members that you can access for free right now. We do monthly networking and meet-ups to support anyone running a business whilst living the roller-coaster that is Armed Forces life. So come and join us – search for Milspo MILSPO on Facebook. We’d love to see you there.
That’s all for me for this week. I’ll be back next Friday for the last episode of the series – so, I shall see you then.

Welcome back to The InDependent Spouse – and what an episode we have for you today! If you’re a business owner, you’ll know that as soon as we get past Halloween, there’s another scary event on the horizon – tax season! Luckily, I know the most fantastic accountant, who also happens to be a military spouse, and Milspo Ambassador – and that’s who I am talking to today.
But first off, a note from the sponsors, the Royal British Legion.
The Royal British Legion can offer you financial support. Whether it’s helping you manage your debt, setting up a new home or business, or just checking you and your family are getting the benefits you’re entitled to, they’ve got your back. Search RBL online or head to www.britishlegion.org.uk
My guest today, Caroline Hocking, is an expert in all things tax and HMRC, so it gives me great joy to be able to bring you this episode today, just as we start creeping towards that January HMRC deadline. But, don’t worry – this episode may be all about finances, but it is far from boring. In fact, you’ll get so much from this whether you have your own business or not – so grab a pen, take some notes, and enjoy this episode of The Independent Spouse podcast.
If you have any more questions, and you’re a military spouse, partner or other-half that has their own business, head over to the Milspo community on Facebook - facebook.com/groups/MILSPO – where Caroline will love to help.

And, if you are looking for an accountant, or indeed a bookkeeper, I have just launched a very exciting new Milspo search website called Find A Milspo – an online directory where you can now find partner-owned businesses all in one place. It’s over at findamilspo.co.uk, perfect for finding that next Milspo business and makes it just that little bit easier to directly support the Armed Forces Community.
So, that’s all from me for today. I will be back with another episode of The InDependent Spouse very soon, so I shall see you then.
 
 

Hello you wonderful lot,
I hope you are well, no matter where you find yourself in the world. It always astounds me when I check the stats on the podcast how many of you are listening, here in the UK and further afield. It’s great to see how these inspirational stories are being spread across the world and hopefully helping you feel a little bit more positive in your military life.
Last week I felt especially honoured to talk at the International Military Spouse Virtual Employment Summit – showcasing military spouses, partners and other-halves in business and learning from other armed forces partners from across the globe. It was a wonderful event and really did highlight the challenges but in equal measure the people from our own community stepping up to support us all. I came away with a new sense that our voices really are being heard on a global stage, and a new hope that military families will now be part of the conversation. Something we can all work towards in our own ways.
A charity that has always known how important military families are is the RBL, who are sponsoring this series.
The RBL know that families are the most important support structure within the serving community. But time spent apart during exercises and operations has its challenges and can strain any relationship. As the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity, the RBL works with its partners to support us when we need a bit of support ourselves. They are here for us 365 days a year, even if it’s just for a phone call to talk to a friendly voice. Head over to rbl.org.uk for more info.
We all know how busy military life can be, but I’ve always been keen to know what life is like when both partners are serving. Today’s interview is with Group Captain Toria McPhaden. Toria is the Station Commander at RAF Northolt and is also married to a serving officer.
In this interview we talk about how that works, and if life as a female officer is any different to the boys! I hope you enjoy this episode of The InDependent Spouse.
Last series I spoke to the lovely Chris Keen on how life as a military husband was, so it’s great to hear the other side, and these interviews go so well hand-in hand together so I would recommend you checking out that episode too.