Wives with Rosamaria Mancini

In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini talks with Jennifer Barnhill, a journalist, author, and military spouse, about the realities of building a career while supporting a spouse in the military.Jennifer shares her own journey from studying journalism and art history and working at the Smithsonian American Art Museum to moving around the United States and overseas with her husband. Along the way, she experienced firsthand how frequent relocations, international employment restrictions, and the demands of military life can disrupt a career. Jennifer is the author of Military Stories You've Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear, a book that challenges the polished narratives surrounding military life and examines the systemic issues that military families face. She talks about why being a military spouse can be both rewarding and incredibly difficult, and why acknowledging those difficulties doesn't diminish pride in the military or the choice to support a partner. Key ThemesWhy military spouses often struggle to maintain professional momentumThe pressure to appear resilient and gratefulThe unpaid labor and caregiving responsibilities carried by military spousesWhy military spouses should be recognized for the work they contribute to their families and communitiesHow research, storytelling, and lived experience can help drive changeThis is an honest conversation about the sacrifices that often go unseen and about why military spouses can be proud of their role while still asking for things to be better. Resources & Links Learn more about Jennifer Barnhill on her website here. Her book, Military Stories You've Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear is available here.   Follow Jennifer on InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.comInstagram

In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini talks with Kayla Jenkins, a former retail manager and military spouse, about stepping away from her career to support her husband and their family, and finding a new sense of identity and purpose along the way.Kayla shares her journey from more than a decade in retail management with Dillard’s to becoming a stay-at-home mom, navigating eight moves, and building a new life in Germany. Along the way, she experienced the challenges of redefining her identity outside of paid work and discovered new ways to channel her ambition through entrepreneurship and volunteering.Through her woodworking business and involvement in military family organizations and spouses’ clubs, Kayla found opportunities to use her creativity, leadership skills, and passion for helping others. She talks about why volunteering has become such an important part of her life, how building a community has helped her navigate military life, and why she believes a woman’s value is about so much more than her financial contributions.This is an honest conversation about identity and ambition, as well as about discovering that putting your career on pause doesn't mean putting your ambitions or sense of purpose on hold.Key Themes• Finding purpose and fulfillment beyond paid work• How volunteering can create new opportunities for growth and connection• Building community and support through the challenges of military life• Why family decisions should be rooted in partnership rather than resentment• Recognizing your value beyond financial contributionsResources & LinksFollow Kayla on Instagram , TikTok and Facebook  Get in touch with Kayla via email at [email protected] you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review, it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.comInstagram

For the first time, Rosamaria Mancini welcomes a male guest to the podcast. In this episode, Rosamaria sits down with Ben Kendall, a former educator who stepped away from his teaching career to become a full-time stay-at-home dad. And while it's a change of perspective for Wives, the questions at the heart of Ben's story are deeply familiar: What happens when your career isn't the plan anymore? Who are you when your role changes? And how do you find yourself again?Originally from Australia and now living in the Netherlands, Ben reflects on what it has meant to build a life around raising his children while his wife continued her career. He talks candidly about being the only dad in mothers' groups, managing the invisible work of running a household, navigating stereotypes about stay-at-home fathers, and finding community and purpose outside of traditional employment. Now that his children are older, Ben is entering another transition. He's exploring what comes next, including becoming a social media influencer and figuring out how maintain the flexibility his family needs. His story is a reminder that a career pause doesn't have to mean the end of ambition, it can become the beginning of a completely different chapter. Key TakeawaysRedefining identity beyond a traditional careerThe realities, rewards, and challenges of being a stay-at-home parentChallenging traditional ideas about "mum jobs" and "dad jobs"Finding community, purpose, and connection outside the homeReinventing yourself as your children growFor Ben, staying home was a choice to be present for the everyday moments that don't come back - the school performances, the milestones, the ordinary days that become the memories a family carries with them. Now, as his children grow, Ben is discovering what it means to make space for himself again.Resources & LinksFollow Ben's stay-at-home dad journey on social media:@stayathomedadlifehacksGet in touch with Ben here.If you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.comInstagramIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.

In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini sits down with Charlotte Reich, a young professional in international relations and diplomacy who moved from Germany to Copenhagen to support her fiancé, a Danish diplomat.Charlotte talks about the challenges of starting over professionally in a new country, building a network from scratch, and figuring out how to make a partner’s career feel like a shared choice rather than a sacrifice.She shares how important it has been to communicate openly with her partner about her fears and ambitions, why she didn’t move to Denmark immediately, and how she has learned to create a sense of agency even when some of the bigger decisions are shaped by her partner’s career.Key takeaways·      Starting over professionally and rebuilding a network from scratch·      Making friends and building community in a new city·      Learning to embrace a different pace of life·      Seeing relationships and sacrifice as phases rather than permanent ·      Why having agency over your own life mattersFor Charlotte, the key is making sure that following doesn't mean losing yourself.Resources & LinksFollow Charlotte on Instagram hereIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.comInstagram

In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini talks with Olgu Berker, an academic and ceramic artist who moved from Turkey to Germany with her husband and two young children.Before the move, Olgu had built a successful academic career. With a PhD in ceramics, a university leadership role, and her habilitation within reach, she expected their time in Germany to be temporary. Nine years later, she’s still there.Olgu shares the challenges of trying to continue her academic career in a new country, including the language barrier that made finding an academic position nearly impossible. She opens up about the grief of putting a career that was central to her identity on hold — and how she found a new path through her art. Today, Olgu runs a ceramics studio from her home, teaches courses and workshops, exhibits internationally, and has built connections in both the local and expat communities. She also talks about learning the unexpected skills of running a business, from marketing and social media to scheduling and finances. Most importantly, Olgu shares how redefining success helped her make peace with the career she paused while continuing to grow as an artist, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Key takeawaysCareer disruption can be especially difficult when your profession is a major part of your identityYou can redefine success without giving up on your ambitionsResilience and an open mind can help turn an unexpected career change into a new opportunityPutting a career on pause doesn't necessarily mean giving up on it foreverSometimes the path forward requires creating your own opportunitiesThis episode is a powerful reminder that when life takes you in an unexpected direction, you don’t have to leave your ambitions behind. Sometimes, you have to reshape them.Resources & LinksLearn more about Olgu Becker and her ceramics work: www.olguarts.comFollow Olgu on Instagram and Facebook   If you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations. www.wivespodcast.comInstagram

In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini talks to Gina LaVere, an educator and professional musician about how moving overseas with her husband meant stepping away from a 22-year career as a choral director and confronting a question she hadn’t had much time to ask: Who am I when I’m no longer "Mrs. LaVere?" Gina shares what it was like to suddenly step away from the classroom, the unexpected opportunities that helped her reconnect with music, and the challenge of rediscovering herself after years of being defined by her work. She also talks honestly about marriage, motherhood, faith, patience, and learning to let go of the need to control what comes next. Most importantly, Gina reminds us that stepping away from a career doesn’t mean stepping away from yourself. Sometimes, creating space is exactly what allows you to finally hear your own voice. Key takeawaysThe identity shift that comes when your career suddenly stopsFinding unexpected ways to reconnect with your passionLearning to listen to your own needs and opinionsLetting go of control and trusting that the next chapter will unfoldCreating sacred space for yourself and the people who matter mostGina’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the pause we didn’t plan can give us the opportunity to discover parts of ourselves we didn’t even realize we had lost. Resources & LinksIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review - it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.comInstagram  

In the Season 1 finale of Wives, host Rosamaria Mancini sits down with expat partner coach Emma Somerville to talk about the emotional and practical realities of relocating abroad as a spouse.After moving from Dubai to Pakistan, and now Kenya, Emma shares how she navigated career disruption, identity shifts, loneliness, and the pressure many accompanying partners feel to “hold everything together.”But this conversation isn’t just about the challenges. It’s packed with practical advice for women trying to rebuild confidence, create purpose, and make life work for themselves too.Key takeawaysWhy the first few weeks after relocation should be treated as “low-capacity weeks”Why making friends abroad feels harder as an adult — and how to do it anywayThe importance of creating a “portable passion” that moves with youHow to stop tying your self-worth to productivityWhy underemployment can sometimes feel worse than not working at allHow to communicate resentment and unmet needs before they damage a relationshipWhy your wellbeing directly impacts your children, marriage, and your partner’s assignment successEmma also explains the surprising research behind expat partner wellbeing and why organizations still aren’t doing enough to support accompanying spouses.Resources & LinksEmma Somerville is an expat partner coach, positive psychology practitioner, yoga teacher, mum, and founder of The Zestie Life. She helps accompanying partners build confidence, rediscover purpose, and create fulfilling lives abroad.Connect with Emma:Instagram: @thezestielifeEmail: [email protected] Website: https://zestie.carrd.co/

In this episode of Wives, host Rosamaria Mancini sits down with Allie Hanna, a dental hygienist whose life and career took a turn after relocating to Germany to support her husband’s military career.Allie shares the emotional realities of putting a career on pause, navigating unemployment overseas, and rebuilding her professional identity in a completely different role within healthcare administration.From canceling a wedding to move abroad, to finding purpose and community in a small military town, Allie offers an honest perspective on resilience, personal growth, and accepting uncertainity.Key TakeawaysLeaving a career behind can feel emotional and disorientingSuccess evolves over timeSpouse employment overseas is challengingCommunity makes a difference and building connections helped adjust to life in GermanyResources & LinksContact Allie on InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.com InstagramFacebook#militaryspouse #careertransformation #resilience #personalgrowth #reinventyourself #lifetransitions #supportandsacrifice #womenempowerment

In this episode of Wives, host Rosamaria Mancini sits down with writer, editor, and historian Tamala Malerk to explore what it really means to build a life around constant change.From earning her PhD while moving across countries to redefining success and identity abroad, Tamala shares an honest and fun look at love, sacrifice, and self-discovery.Along the way, she reflects on turning writing into both therapy and a career, the tension between academic ambition and a mobile life, and what it takes to redefine fulfillment on your own terms. She also highlights the ongoing search for identity beyond job titles and even weighs in on a “serious” global ranking of McDonald’s chicken nuggets.This episode is a reminder that identity isn’t fixed, and that sometimes, the detours shape us more than the plan ever could.Key TakeawaysIdentity evolves, especially through major life transitionsCareer paths don’t have to be linear to be meaningfulCommunication is essential in relationships that require sacrificeFulfillment often requires redefining success on your own termsCreativity can become a lifeline during uncertain timesResources & LinksContact Tamala on LinkedIn and InstagramIf you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.com InstagramFacebook

What happens when you follow your partner across countires, and your career doesn’t follow as easily?In this episode, Rosamaria Mancini speaks with Sonia Burton, a researcher and evaluator who has built her career across the UK and the U.S., only to face unexpected professional barriers after relocating to the Netherlands.Sonia shares the emotional and practical realities of navigating career disruption, maintaining a sense of identity without formal employment, and finding meaningful ways to stay engaged when you love data.This is an honest conversation about ambition, adaptability, and redefining success when life takes a different turn. Key Takeaways·      A career pause doesn’t erase your identity·      Staying engaged matters·      There’s no single “right” way to navigate this phase·       Preparation is powerful·      This time can reshape priorities·      This chapter isn’t the end—it’s a transitionResources & LinksContact Sonia on LinkedIn and Facebook.If you enjoyed this episode of Wives, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more listeners discover these important conversations.www.wivespodcast.com InstagramFacebook #militaryspouse #careertransformation #resilience #personalgrowth #reinventyourself #lifetransitions #supportandsacrifice #womenempowerment