Women of the Military: Amanda Huffman Air Force Engineer Turned Advocate, Podcaster & Mom

Amanda is a military spouse and veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a
Civil Engineer including a deployment to Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots
for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career.
She published her first book in 2019 titled Women of the Military, sharing the stories of
28 military women. In 2019 she also launched her podcast also titled Women of the
Military. On the podcast there has been representation from all five military branches and
featured stories from the 23 rd Secretary of the Air Force, the Women Air Force Service
Pilots to present day. You can learn more about Amanda at her blog Airman to Mom.

Women of the Military Podcast: www.airmantomom.com/podcast
Women of the Military Book: http://www.airmantomom.com/women-of-the-military-ebook/
Good Night Captain Mama: http://www.gracefullyglobal.com/commerce/?page_id=36&ap_id=Airmantomom
Girls Guide to the Military: http://www.airmantomom.com/free-resources/a-girls-guide-to-the-military/

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Support Amanda's mission: www.patreon.com/womenofthemilitary

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For more information visit abbylbolt.com
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Transcript

spk_0:   0:06
Welcome to her brother had podcast where we celebrate women who put their lives on the line. I'm your host, Abby Bolt. And today I am so excited to be talking to Amanda Huffman, the creator, and host of women of the military podcast. She also is the creator of Airmen Imam Block, and she interviews women who have served in the military or currently serving the military. She shares certain aspects of her experiences. Is an Air Force officer a military spouse of a veteran and a mom? We also even talk about Space Force in here. So I'm really looking forward to this interview, and I hope you enjoy it too. We're here on her brotherhood with Amanda. I've been trained to reach her for so long. We're both so busy. So, Amanda, tell me. Tell me your full name. What it is. Why are you here today? Like, what is it that connects you to her brotherhood and kind of give them an idea of why we reached out to each other?

spk_1:   1:18
So my name is Amanda Huffman, and I am a military spouse than an Air Force veteran, and I left the military. It's getting closer to 6 to 7 years ago, and when I left, I had a complete identity crisis because I lost my identity of being on military and I was mom, and it wasn't what I expected. And so one of the things that I got drawn into it. I started writing because I had always loved to write, even though I'm an engineer, which doesn't make sense to me. But I always loved to write, and blogging was sort of new. And so I said, after applying and make money and Howard, I didn't know what I was doing. And I learned a lot about, like, different things and marketing and stuff, And I was also trying to figure out, like, what else would be writing about clothes like right about everything from natural birth. Little very stuff. Who knows. And it would travel all over the map, and I started to bounce around and I took some courses and I found some clarity, and I ended up discovering that women veterans with the perfect place for me to talk to people, and I started sherry first appointment stories, which I thought was gonna be a mix of men and women but ended up being mostly all women. And then I switch gears from deployments and started talking a motive. Military women and I started a podcast last January, and I just share the stories of military women and what? They're pledges, unlike, and I use the model of you have your story matters because I think everyone has a story. And I just want women to know that their story matters in their service matters and that they should share it with.

spk_0:   3:10
That is great. I love and I see you light of like you're in, you're

spk_1:   3:15
fine and filled, but

spk_0:   3:16
oh, yeah, you found a purpose, and now I'm gonna back up a little bit. So you're like, you know, you're blogging, but, ah, you hit on an engineer part. So is that what you were doing for the military? Tell me

spk_1:   3:28
about it. My degree's civil engineering. And so the civil engineer in the airport and, uh, airport civil engineers maintain the base. So the air force, unlike the army's, they, like, pick a base up. Then they build the runway and like they stay in one place. So they have a real need for the expertise of like civil engineering and the Army is always moving until they make, like, temporary bridges and stuff to move forward. And so when I was in the Air Force actually deployed with the Army because they needed the civil engineer specialty. And so I deploy with the Army and loves doing karma boys in Afghanistan with, um, the local people of Afghanistan working as like a civil engineer managing construction projects. And so my military screen's a little crazy and not what I think most people go.

spk_0:   4:24
Wow, yeah, you don't think like Air Force engineered on the dirt roads of Baghdad. You know, it's just crazy. So when you think back, is there like a specific, um, you know, detail or specific project that comes to mind? That was a memorable one?

spk_1:   4:42
Well, I think my appointment was kind of like it made me realize that I could do a lot of things that I didn't think I could. D'oh! I was really timid and shy and, I don't know, kind of funny because, like I was in the Air Force and I was an officer and I doctoral trading, but I still wasn't like sure of myself and it definitely wasn't sure of myself going on an Army mission and going. They stay off outside the wire, which is off base and like interacting with local Afghan people. And so that part of it was really I was so like, terrified of like what was to come and that, like, I wouldn't be able to do my job. But then I found out about the training the military gave me, and then I had a lot more in me than I realized until finally pushed me in ways were really hard. But you have to grow a lot.

spk_0:   5:35
That's a really great way to put that. That's super cool. And what was your family thinking? Where they like No, no, no, that's not what your plan was. You weren't supposed to go outside the wire. What were they saying?

spk_1:   5:48
My bd. I was surprised that my parents were head laid back about it, and they were, and I don't really. I think they were worried about me, of course, but they kind of had accepted that I was joining the military and, like I didn't have a say on if I was going or not. So what's it like there was anything they could do about it. So my family doesn't have any military background. So, surprisingly, they were just like Okay, well, this is what's happening, and we're just gonna go with it. And

spk_0:   6:21
that's what those car

spk_1:   6:22
hasn't. Yeah, My husband was in the Air Force, so I think he were already married. So he understood, Like the requirements. I didn't tell them a lot of the stuff I I wrote letters home like via email. And they're always, like, positive and upbeat and like some people thought that, like, appointment was great and like, there were good parts about it. But a lot of my emails didn't go into, like, the hard parts, and they definitely don't go Any of I did have a combat experience, and I didn't write about that until I wrote about it. And then I didn't send it until after I was

spk_0:   7:03
Look, you you still worried about everybody back there at home? Cause yeah, it would have just caused, so Oh, my gosh. My mom would worry her head off if hey gave her too much information. And it's like Disneyland. Mom, it's great. Mickey Mouse is here and we're gonna be fine. Then you come home. You know, actually, bullets were flying and it was, you know, it's better that moms don't know about it till later. Her, that's that's so true. So what? Um, so you got into the military after you were married, and so that is that's interesting. What was it like? Um, going through the experience of joining up and going to boot camp in all of that in a married relationship. And, you know, just tell me a little bit about about that.

spk_1:   7:46
We actually met the could become an officer there, like three main ways and wanted to go to the academy or to do Officer Training School, which is after you graduate. But also, you can go to college and do a program called the Reserve Officer Training Corps, which is what my husband and I did. And that's where we met. So we're both, uh, doing that program. He was a year ahead of me, so he ended up graduating before me. But I did go the summer that I went thio. They called still training instead of boot camp to confuse people I have. But he was, uh, he was sent me letters and like he was off doing what other Air Force program he was doing. And so our lives were kind of like a little bit crazy because there was a lot of, like, moving pieces that a lot of dynamics of, Like when he he graduated here before me, you and active duty and I still under your left school. And so I stayed in California and he went to New Mexico. And then when I when I finally went active duty, they sent me to Alabama and then I can go back to New Mexico And then he was in Australia when I came

spk_0:   8:58
home and the little military family,

spk_1:   9:01
Yeah, and so that was kind of just like the crazy dynamics of like, even when I was deployed, he got accepted into a program that we have both applied for, and I didn't get it, and I just go to Afghanistan and he moved to Ohio. So I came back like a box stuff you left at my friend's house and like my house look on and like everything was in Ohio except for the office of things he finds. So it's kind of like our life, a lot of communicating by phone or email, and it was on interesting. My crazy

spk_0:   9:38
instability wasn't your stability like that was just you were in it and that's you guys are fungible. It sounds like so that we rolled with it. You know, most people when they say why I came home to a box of my stuff and, you know, it's usually not a good situation, but you guys were to military active duty and making it happens. That's that's really cool. You guys, you really show how flexible you have to be in something like this. And you know, when you don't have a choice, when it's like you're you're going, it's I think it's easier on a relationship than when you do have a choice and you're choosing programs to do. You know what? When they're like Sorry, honey, but I have to go to Australia. It's like, Well, see, in a couple years, you know? So that's really great. Now tell me. So you How long were you in the Air Force?

spk_1:   10:25
I was in six and 1/2 years.

spk_0:   10:29
That's pretty long stead. Yeah, that's cool. Now you came out of the airports, But you're still married to an active duty, right? And then you guys So you got out. Did you have kids before or after you got out?

spk_1:   10:45
Uh, my personal was born right at the end of I. So when you get pregnant, well, officer is gonna have a weird commitment. So, Officers, when you move, you have, like, a two year commitment, and then you can, like, get commitments for doing school or different programs. But it's not like an enlistment. So you, sir, and then, like your time of service requirement is up, and then you like, either stay in and then you move again, and then you get it. So it's kind of weird. So I was to the point when I got pregnant with my son, but I didn't have any ties staying in the military. So with all the craziness I just described, we knew that it didn't really make sense for both of us to stay in because we wanted to, like, have my normal

spk_0:   11:32
a little bit of stability.

spk_1:   11:34
Yeah, And with my career feel I deploy. I deployed a lot more, and with that, a higher deployment, right, that my husband's career field, so it made more sense for me to get out and stay at home. And so I timed it so that the Air Force, I guess it wouldn't matter because I would have killed at the airport Safe work, Zack City. But the air horse paid for, like, the birth. And then I got my maternity leave and then places. Come, pally. After that, I finally went off

spk_0:   12:05
nice. And now you're what's his profession?

spk_1:   12:09
He's a developmental engineer, and he works in the

spk_0:   12:14
okay. And yours was a what kind of engineer?

spk_1:   12:17
Little engineer.

spk_0:   12:18
Oh, that's right. Okay. Gotcha. And so back up a little bit to where you were planning the logistics of your cause. That's what military people do. They plan logistics. Eso You planned all that out Now, what was it like being, um, going through a pregnancy? Being active duty. And where were you guys stationed at that time?

spk_1:   12:37
We were in Ohio, and it wasn't really any different than being normal. I still went to they called PT, which is, I think, physical training, which is working out. And so I think we did that. We did it two or three times a week, and I was fit and active up until they sent me to the hospital. And the years

spk_0:   13:01
have

spk_1:   13:01
been like so it wasn't really any different except that, like, I knew it was gonna deploy because I was pregnant. And so I still did my job pretty much same. I was working in the office area, so it wasn't like a lot of outside stuff. But I just had a new uniform that, as you know, just like how you get new closed for a maternity where they have a uniform that you can wear and it was pretty much.

spk_0:   13:28
But it's a super flattering. You know, me, just like I know the dress uniforms from the military, just like Oh my gosh, can you make it any worse? Like, you know, it's one thing to have this big old belly, and it's another thing to just go and throw a 10 daughter while you're at it, you know? Yeah. Ah, yeah.

spk_1:   13:47
No, they're not.

spk_0:   13:50
It's like you're walking around the sandwich board. Basically, you're like I'm having a baby is like, If you take that, I always see those pictures on like and they're so dialed is so much that they do. I think that they could find way they could look in the, you know, maternity fashion a little bit for the U. S. Military. Yeah. Oh, Lordy.

spk_1:   14:06
Really comfortable. So I can't, like, complain

spk_0:   14:09
that it's currently not a comfort issue, because I can tell. It's kind of like the military movement that I think we would all, you know, become a general. Ah, Lonnie, I hear. Yeah, that's cool. So then, you guys, you had your 1st 1 and ah, you moved on from the military. And then next thing you know, you're now military spouse, a veteran and military spouse, and made that shift. And so and But you have two kids right now, There it there what, two or four and six. But right

spk_1:   14:36
now, I

spk_0:   14:36
guess you got that spreads. They got two of them. And now you guys are living where a TTE the moment state And where is he?

spk_1:   14:44
We're in Northern Virginia and he stationed at the Pentagon.

spk_0:   14:47
Oh, really? Interesting. Okay, open. So now that's gonna bring me to you Brought up Space force. I gotta ask. So it's the new. So tell me like what's the feel from military families like, you know, here we go Space Force mode like, What is that kind of vibe and what's going on there on on your guy's point of view?

spk_1:   15:07
I think a lot of people are excited because the stuff has primarily been under the Air Force's control and their forces from by pilots. And so there's been a lot of stuff where people don't really understand what's going on in space, and I think you have someone leading it. Who's a general who works in the face arena will really help make impact and change, and it really exciting all the stuff that's going on. I watch a lot of the space blondes like They thanked them like all these companies that I don't know because my husband's really excited about it. And I think people don't realize all the different stuff that's going on this thing and from a private sector and the military standpoint, and so it's It's really exciting to be unlike the way I feel like we're that would like The airport started in like, you know, they got out of the army and became the Air Force, and they like change how the culture and how things were done. And I feel like we're at the beginning stages and it's exciting to see, like, what happens

spk_0:   16:16
now? That's cool. I love really loved that. That outlook on it, that's from that inside and, um, scene a scene you light up talking about it and having I mean, you're living in a home now where your guys is. Mission now is space force. And where that's moving forward to and you have two kids that their dad is working on space programs, you know that that's pretty cool. And, uh, even though you're you know, sure you're not active anymore. But let's face it, you're the spouse. You are like, super active in it. But, uh, you know, you get to have all these great conversations and be in the middle of it you're watching launches your studying up on all this stuff. But your husband probably comes home with a lot of stuff he can't even tell you. Is that right?

spk_1:   16:58
Yeah. Yeah, they're cool, huh? There's a lot of that. We don't talk. I mean, I don't really care about what he does for, say, I'm not the military itself. So, like I think we're both active duty, We will. I come home and then we wouldn't talk about work. So I think that kind of like people will be like, What are his letters? And I'm like So I think that question because I like I barely remember that. And so it's It's more like, I guess we always focus on, like what we can do together and, like quarantine the launches and learning about, like, the different things going on and

spk_0:   17:35
so that cool

spk_1:   17:36
Oh, yeah,

spk_0:   17:37
now I love that. I mean, I love the fact that it is so common that we have things that military people can't talk about, because if we don't have those top secret, you know, facets to what's going on, like I almost get perturbed when I hear things get leaked out to the news. I'm like, No, let's not share this. We need to hide this for our safety and our benefit, like, let's you know, So I don't even care what level is that, like If it's, they can't even tell you what kind of fuel they're putting in their vehicle. It's like, Well, there's probably a reason and it's keeping us safe. So zip the lip. You know, I dig that and so you know, there's got to be sure there's a mystery to it, but also it lets you know that he's on some missions that are really meaningful. You and by missions. I mean, he's working on projects that are a part of something really big. So that's that's really cool and interesting.

spk_1:   18:24
Yeah, and he, um And he was telling me and when he came back that they're actually trying to change a lot of the days sports classifications, because right now, a lot of the general public doesn't know what's going on because it's so classified. And so they're trying to figure out a way to make it so that people can learn more about, like, what's happening in the world in the face Serena. So that it's not such a mystery, which is kind of interesting to see from,

spk_0:   18:54
uh, well. And especially, it's kind of funny timing right now because Star Wars is so big again, right? So so it's like, Well, the world is excited about space at the moment, but then now it's like trying to get that between trying to get the Star Wars and Darth Vader vision out of their head and space balls out of their head, right? But it's somewhere in the middle. It's somewhere between, you know, a joke movie. Ah, great fantasy movie and reality. And so, you know, it's It's I think it's hitting the world and it at an interesting time right now and especially remember the first time I heard the term Space Force and I was like, Oh, OK, we're gonna call something easy and how and here we are and, you know, going So yeah, I could see how the messaging will be confusing, but I think that would be great, you know, for them to get more information out there. So and sharing things like this just talking about I came with my husband does in the military. That's that's really great against the conversation going. So now you talked about when you were coming out of the military and you went through, like, a total identity crisis. Great, and you were a new mom, too. So slam all that stuff together because Mom's on a regular path, go through an identity crisis. So tell me a little bit more about that. That struggle and how you overcame in.

spk_1:   20:10
Yeah, it was really hard. And I think I've been reading a lot about, like transitioning out of the military. And some of the stuff end the programs that the military gives you is all about books on getting a new job. But no one talks about the emotion of like what serving in the military is meant. What not serving in the military will mean. And so I felt kind of like, betrayed by the military because they have given me these tools. But they, like, didn't help me because I wasn't going to get a job. And then I was a mom and and I always I always saw the babies like the heavies, all these books of helping these. I thought they were helpful that I thought, I will read all these books and then that's what I had done my whole life. I had read the book study for the test, and then I would you know, I wouldn't sell it on. And then my mom and I read all the books and I was like, Don't help me.

spk_0:   21:05
It's still crying. Yeah,

spk_1:   21:10
and So it's kind of like a mixed really badly being a mom. You someone told me. It's like you have to break up with yourself like break up with the old do and and then I was also struggling with, like who I was. I was just a person and even not working, because my degrees in civil engineering and I have the experience of being in the military silly. It wouldn't have been hard for me to find a job, but I didn't feel called to do that. I felt called Holden. People just really I don't understand. And I was like, Well, this is what's important to me And they're like, Plate, you're an engineer and I'm like But let's So that was really hard Thing to do is stick to what, uh was important. Not with the world will think.

spk_0:   21:58
Well, that's trifecta. So you're into Lake breaking over the military breaking of yourself. You know, it's four things, cause then then you're even going through. You know, you're going through the crisis of like the career guilt of, you know, there's the mommy, you know, of going to work, and then you got the mommy guilt of not going toe work and, like, give a girl a break. You know, when people, you know, understand, like, how conflicted you already are inside. And then they apply another little cut to that, and it's like you're getting just pushed over, so it had to be really hard. And I love what your convictions were there. You're like, No, I wanted This is what I want to do. And there's a book on it somewhere, Damn it. And I'm gonna reader figure out how to make this could happy and no eyes gonna be right with the world. So, um, no, I love that approach. And, uh, clearly, Now you assume that you have a really supportive husband. So, like, what was it like with your guy's relationship and going through that transition? And what kind of you know what kind of facets were happening there?

spk_1:   22:59
Well, he got sent to training when my son was two months old, so I was kindly get the end of my time of the military of like, out processing. And then I was so is losing that. And then he was gone. And then, you know, course when he leaves like baby stuff feed. And Oh, so that was like, um added another added thing that made it even harder. And so I was like when he was gone for those eight weeks, like, Make it till I get home and then everything will be right again. And then he came home. But I know what you know. And so that

spk_0:   23:32
wasn't the magic potion.

spk_1:   23:34
No, I, like, expected him to, like, fix everything. And like, she didn't fix everything. And, yes, that was really hard to because he was gone. And then I was trying to figure it out, and then he came back, and that kind of just added more stress for the my life. Like

spk_0:   23:55
clean. And I love you guys. But then you probably have, like, two babies, right? Cause you know, you're trying to foster this relationship and everything, but then you're pissed at him because he's not fixing everything. Like you were supposed to come in and just be the fixer and, you know Oh, God, Yeah. I could totally see you, girl. Like it's Yeah, you're smiling now, But I'm sure it wasn't all smiles then. So

spk_1:   24:16
a lot of tears there's been alerted I wrote my testimony when my four year old was like six months old and there was a lot of crying, and now I can share that story without crying, but I've shared it multiple times, but it was there was, like so much hurt and like so much forgiveness and unity of myself for like, not doing everything Akeley perfectly. I think I was so hard on myself as a new mom, which I think is something that a lot of new moms struggle with is that we think that there's a perfect mom is like no one would expect their friend to meet that qualification. But then we put that on ourselves in. It's really hard.

spk_0:   25:00
Well, we look at it on social media and you see somebody. It's like, Well, clearly she's got it feared out. Oh, no, like either she's got two nannies or you have no idea that can't ask happening behind her that she just got to all shut up and let me take this great picture like, you know, even the ones that look perfect. It's there, they're not. But we all put that back on ourselves and that I can just imagine like what you were. Really? You had some serious layers because there's women that go through these things and go into postpartum depression and have so many issues. And they don't have year the layers that you are having. So you must have a lot to share. And I think it's so cool that you're doing it, how you're doing it and from going to blogging about what color the sky is too. Then holding it in till what it was really in. Your heart is really cool. And the everyone has a story That's that's really great. And hi blow. I'm so glad that we linked up because I was watching on search on I think Instagram is where I found you. And I'm like, this girl is doing some cool stuff and so, you know, tell me, like, tell me more about what it is that you're up to you in doing. And, um, as far as your blawg and and podcasting and like, how can people find you and support you? And what do you need?

spk_1:   26:16
So my podcast is called Women of the military and you couldn't listen to it on your favorite part cat and we still don't know what? Yeah, like

spk_0:   26:26
find her another favor, that podcast aft. And please leave a review for you. Oh,

spk_1:   26:31
yeah. I'm not good about

spk_0:   26:33
her. I know,

spk_1:   26:35
but I I So what I did was I started interviewing women, and I took all those stories. I was gonna do another bog period that we moved from California to Virginia in the summer 2018. And so then I felt really overwhelmed, and it was like a 31 day balls. Crazy. And so my friend was like, Why? I do a podcast? And I was like, Oh, okay, lets try that. And so I was gonna take those stories that I was going to read them. But at the same time, I was like, maybe I could find women who want to share their stories. And it had taken me a long time to find the women for the book that I now have, which is also called Women of the Military.

spk_0:   27:18
Wait, wait. Well, wait. I missed that piece. You wrote a book?

spk_1:   27:24
I wrote a book. It's like the podcast, but it just written with all the interview question. Whoa! Yeah, and it's 28 women with. It's primarily airport, which makes

spk_0:   27:36
them Oh my God, you're so by eyes it is. Do you know it's No, no, no, that's awesome. People find your book,

spk_1:   27:46
it's on Amazon. Just search women in the military, and, you

spk_0:   27:49
know, I'm gonna have a link in the show. Notes. You guys,

spk_1:   27:53
Parfitt. And so I was gonna, like, read those stories. But then I ended up getting all these women got so excited and I don't know how they found me and they wanted to tell their stories. And so now I have women, like laying down my door. You tell stories, which is exciting, but I also like, I could only do like, one episode a week because a lot of work like, uh, there's a lot of work that goes into testimony. Really, I

spk_0:   28:21
know there is.

spk_1:   28:23
Yeah, And so I've been I've been caring one week each way to do a story and usually once a month. I do like me talking solo episodes, talking about different topics, and I've had all my bridges that you're really excited about. So the Coast Guard Marine Maybe, or Force and Army and I interviewed last year the former secretary of the Air Force, Deborah James. That was

spk_0:   28:53
brilliant idea.

spk_1:   28:55
I just interviewed last week and it'll be on in March, Uh, the one of the first Air Force general. And she's turning 90 next month and the woman's memorial. And he's doing

spk_0:   29:10
so

spk_1:   29:11
great. No, I teamed up with them to interview her

spk_0:   29:15
with. That is cool. Now what? I don't ask you. What is it? I imagine you're my great grandfather's passed away, but I couldn't imagine having a podcast interview with him at this point. We did try to do some recording with him. What was it like interviewing a 90 year old vet? How did she deal?

spk_1:   29:33
I had her. He came to my house, I was gonna go to her. But then the lady who's coordinating it was like we could drive you. And I was like, Well, that makes my life. So she sat in my living room and then we did it. Hey, and I had given her, like, my general questions to help her and she the notes and she. But we just went through the questions and she I'll have to edit everyone while we could see what asks a lady who was with her, if you like. Well, the thing and so just like. But you know, it's not live. So it's easy. Heard I, like, let her know if she needed to do that. That was okay, so But it was like an hour long conversation of disappearing like history on that

spk_0:   30:19
as a whole. That's I'm so glad you're capturing all this stuff. That is really, really great. Yeah, People think that, you know, you do podcasting use making a bunch of money off of it. It's It's the least podcast like ours, their passion based, like they're do them because we have something we want to share, something we want to help people share. And, um, yeah, so, you know, support her by the book. Listen, the podcast leave a review. Do you have ah, like a patriotic on thing going?

spk_1:   30:47
I just started Patri on. Yeah,

spk_0:   30:49
tool over my continued.

spk_1:   30:52
Yeah, my the lowest packages. Just a dollar a month, which is $12 year.

spk_0:   30:58
No, that's what I've got some people supporting me, and it's like, um, even if they're do a dollar, it's a huge nod toe. Like I support what you're doing, and it feels so good. And, um, all this stuff costs money. You guys from the equipment Thio, you know, hosting things every month. And, uh, and the time that you put into it's not about making up for all the time because but it's just about helping, you know, cover costs and then showing a creator like you that, like I got you back, like, Here you go, Here's a book. It's like, Here's a cup of comedy. A month's wait, you know? So it's really great. And you can don't eat from a dollar to a CZ Muchas you want per month and and it's just a really great way to, uh, show your support to people like Amanda. So that's very cool. Nice. Good. If not, I was gonna make you start one, so I don't permit it. Mine enough Like I talked about it in the thing. But I am trying to get better about promoting in, and I'm going to start making some T shirts and things like that. People are asking for all those. So, um, that is so cool. Now, Now, tell me about Are there any other like challenges that you have been helping people overcome or dealing with in your life. Like what else is it that you want to share out there?

spk_1:   32:05
So one of the cool things that started happening with the cloud cast is the women who are looking to join the military. Sometimes they get, um, what's the word like, discouraged from joining or

spk_0:   32:17
they don't know

spk_1:   32:18
the month. Yeah, or they don't know someone to talk Thio. And so they they've been finding my podcasts and they created a girl's guide to the military. So the free lead magnet Thio in your

spk_0:   32:33
That'll be in the show nuts. But that show, that's all.

spk_1:   32:38
It's been really cool to connect with those young ladies who is in the e mails telling me like what branch? They're coming And then if they want to get connected with someone who's think careful that your LinkedIn and I went out and then I get all these people who are like, I'll talk about your lady who needs on So it's so cool to be ableto help women who are considering joining tohave. The resource is they need to make that decision and not just delightful know you can do it

spk_0:   33:09
right. That's great. Yeah, The mentorship in it is huge, and that's I'm living all these network things because when when we were younger, that just wasn't there. There wasn't that easy social ability. And so that right now nowadays is like huge, and we don't want to do have women Not that's why I created this podcast is to get young women to hear women like you and all these other places and be like, Oh, I could do that or, you know, it's not that bad. Oh, there's challenges. But listen, all this cool stuff, too, you know, into here, regular chicks out there doing cool stuff, and you can go be a mom and you can go be a wife and you can you know, you could be pissed off because you're both bouncing around the globe all the time. You know what? These are all the things that we want to hear. The good, the bad, the ugly and the encouraging. So in its lessons, learned like you talking about your challenge is coming out having a baby, All that all this crisis that you were going through that that's important for people be here so that it's not hitting them by surprise all the time. And so we just like to, you know, show the either the really cool staff for the really devastating stuff. It's this in between life that it's like everybody's living and I think it's it's really cool to share it so And I love what you're doing with the young women. That's super cool. No. Yeah. So you talked about you might move to California. Guys were thinking about California. Where would Where would if your husbands to come out here? Where would he be based?

spk_1:   34:35
Uh, probably at L. A airport face or a number.

spk_0:   34:40
Okay, so there's like a regular. There's a Los Angeles air base or what? Where's the Where is that?

spk_1:   34:45
I didn't also It's what else? I don't know. It's

spk_0:   34:48
really well taken

spk_1:   34:49
airport. It doesn't have her own way, so people don't know that it's their

spk_0:   34:53
dad. I don't really hear it reference very often. I hear kids. Yeah, tell him to come crashing. And if he wants to come crashing and bring him on in, let's talk to Jake. Oh, I love that Give up there.

spk_1:   35:11
Coming, huh? You capital. You say Hi.

spk_0:   35:16
Oh, hi, Jacob. How are you? I can't see your face, So you gotta scoot over a little bit. Hey, you guys. I am looking at the shootist little rotten, blond headed little boy who is just the coolest.

spk_1:   35:30
What's up,

spk_0:   35:31
Jacob? Hot do you said? Hey, I How old are you, Jacob?

spk_1:   35:38
Hi.

spk_0:   35:39
No, you're not. You're four.

spk_1:   35:41
Hi.

spk_0:   35:41
Oh, my gosh. Hey, Jacob. You know what? Where your mom is super cool.

spk_1:   35:46
You know,

spk_0:   35:48
uh oh, she didn't give. You gave a big old case. Your mom's pretty cool. Yeah, you better keep a holder. Are you being good?

spk_1:   35:58
Yeah.

spk_0:   35:58
All right. Do you need her to go push a button? Can you give me, like, five more minutes and then shouldn't go push your button deal? So do they know what? Um, do they know what mom and Dad like What? That you were in the military, What you do and what dad does

spk_1:   36:15
that they know that he's in the military. And on Veterans Day, Sometimes we talked about the fact that I was in the military, but I don't know, they quite understand. I did go to actually went to the preschool class and to my son's school, and I talked about being an Air Force from being a veteran

spk_0:   36:36
dead.

spk_1:   36:36
And so, you know, my husband was like, You're I'm not a veteran yet. So it's all about you. And so it was really cool for me to get to share. And I brought my uniform I wore when I was in Afghanistan and axes and I read a Children's book. I could send you the link to it, but it's about it's called Captain Momma. And she wrote a serious about her son after some questions about being a navigator in the airport. So

spk_0:   37:03
yes, I'm not really over. That's really cool. Great. Yeah. In all this stuff that you're recording now and you're doing the kids, we're gonna have 2030 years down the line, test another mom. So that's really cool. So, Amanda, it has been so great talking to you in lovely weeding little Jacob and hearing about all of your stuff. I bet he's gonna come up and just totally crash onto any minute and I'm ready for it. He's back. You're ready. Um, So just tell me one more time, though. As we close out the name your podcast, your book. And then I'm gonna put the links to everything in the show notes If

spk_1:   37:35
my podcast is women of the military and you can find out your favorite pie pass cap. And the book is also titled Women of the Military and find it on Emma's

spk_0:   37:45
Very great. All right, Amanda, I'm gonna let you get back to that little guy, because if not, we're gonna have a whole separate Jacob interview. I can already see this happen. Well, thanks so much, your honor, and taking the time. And I look forward to catching up with you soon, And I would love to interview some of the women that that you heard from and and help spread their stories to. So you have a wonderful day. Okay.

spk_1:   38:05
Thank you.

spk_0:   38:06
All right. Bye bye. Thank you for hanging out with me and Amanda and being here in this interview with us. It has been an honor toe. Have your time. Now if you can. And you're willing, I would love to have you as a patron. You can check out our show notes for the link to that. We're needing more patrons to to support the podcast. And we talked about that with Amanda, and they're too. You support what she's doing. You can do it for just a block by bucks, whatever. Whatever it is that you think that what we're creating is is a word we would really appreciate that. Um, please check out what she's doing. It sounds like she has a book that I didn't even see. I'm gonna go check that on Amazon right now. All the links will be there in the show notes and, you know, share this podcast. Leave it a review. Let folks know about it. It means a lot to us, because every time that we share these stories, somebody out there is inspired. And that's what it's all about. You guys have a great day. Thanks again for being here.