The RFS Podcast

Recruit for Spouses - The UK's first female Fighter Pilot : Jo Slater

The number 13 is unlucky for some... Not for us though because this week we're talking to Jo Salter, the UK's very first female fighter jet pilot! Jo Salter flew the Tornado ground attack aircraft with 617 Squadron in the Royal Air Force. She later became an inspirational speaker and in November 2016 she joined PwC as a director and Chief of Staff, responsible for digital capabilities within the People and Organisation practice.Jo has first hand experience of challenge and change, requiring tenacity, determination, flexibility and an excellent sense of humour. She's backed by a degree in Electronic Systems Engineering and an MBA. Her inspirational speeches have introduced her to a vast range of businesses and, whether it be 25 at a breakfast briefing in The Ivy or 3000 at an international conference centre, Jo entertains, challenges and inspires. She is also the author of two books focusing on using personal energy for high achievement.We hope you enjoy our chat with Jo! 

Recruit for Spouses - Penny Mansfield CBE (from One Plus One)

This week, as part of our Diversity Month, we are honoured to be joined by Penny Mansfield CBE who is the director of One Plus One.One Plus One is a UK charity that creates resources that strengthen relationships.Relationships are as diverse and as complicated as they are necessary and fulfilling.Whether romantic, platonic or professional, you'll find Penny's insights and knowledge timeless and important - especially in our current climate. Penny and her diverse team help couples and parents through a range of web-services.Their online learning equips frontline workers with the skills to offer timely relationship support in a face to face setting.Based on the latest research evidence, their work promotes early action in relationship support.Aiming to equip people with the skills and knowledge to work on relationship issues before they become entrenched. The result is couples, parents and children who are happier, healthier, and more successful."We really hope you enjoy the episode! 

Recruit for Spouses - Louise Fetigan (from Little Troopers)

On this weeks episode we're talking to military spouse Louise Fetigan who is the founder of the charity Little Troopers. Louise herself served in the British Army and saw active service in Kosovo. Her husband is also currently a serving soldier and has undertaken seven operational tours of duty since their daughter was born in 2003. Louise is passionate about helping all the Little Troopers at home through the anxiety of deployment, the process of moving house and school frequently and keeping parent and child connected having experienced first hand the impact it can have. We talk to her about what is changing now and how the pandemic has affected our military families. We hope you enjoy the episode and please share it far and wide! 

Recruit for Spouses - Heather Sharp (from Forces Wives Challenge)

Our guest this week is Heather Sharp from Forces Wives Challenge.Heather graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005, commissioning into the Royal Engineers. Throughout her 10 year career in the Regular Army, she had the opportunity to deploy to Afghanistan and take part in expeditions around the world - enjoying all the opportunities for adventure and travel that a military career offers. In 2007, Heather married a fellow serving officer and when their family grew, the pressures of bringing up a young family meant that in 2014 she took the difficult decision to leave. Heather now saw life on the other side of the fence and found it much tougher. Her eyes were opened to the incredible sacrifices made by those that hold the fort at home and she really wanted to give something back by providing opportunities for this community to have a taste of the exciting adventures, teamwork and sense of belonging she had enjoyed in the military. And so the Forces Wives Challenge (FWC) was born, seeking to unite women with partners in the military through adventure and challenge.Since its creation in 2018, FWC has completed a number of exciting adventures from the flagship expedition to Chile where they climbed the highest volcano in the world, to the iconic Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the National 3 Peaks and Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. FWC is growing rapidly with over the 600 members nationally and their events having raised over £30,000 for charity!We hope you enjoy the episode.

Recruit for Spouses - Charlotte Sjoberg (from Virgin)

Our guest in this episode is Charlotte Sjoberg, a Communications Director at Virgin.She's also a Military spouse and talks about the reality of juggling a full-time role for a big Corporate Brand with a young family. She also tells us how she started working for Virgin.Charlotte has been “doing” communications for nearly two decades now – Having cut her teeth in the financial sector including launching and floating one of them, she’s racked up a fair chunk of experience across internal and external communication over the years.Having joined Virgin Red, the Virgin Group’s new rewards club, as Corporate Affairs Director at the beginning of 2020, 2021 sees Charlotte take on a new role within the Virgin family as Communications Director for Virgin UK (alongside her Virgin Red responsibilities too).Living in the middle of nowhere with her two young boys and serving husband, she enjoys the quiet life – which is fortunate during lockdown – giving her plenty of time to support her local vineyards. When she’s not working or entertaining the family, she’s teaching herself to play the piano, dabbles in musical theatre (she used to be a professional tap dance teacher) and eating way too much pasta.

Recruit for Spouses - Lucy Feltham Leonelli on Underemployment

In this episode we welcome the formidable Lucy Feltham Leonelli, who was introduced to Recruit for Spouses back in 2011 by the charity Heropreneurs. Lucy, an executive search specialist had her eyes opened to underemployment in the military spouse community when she first started working with RFS and was determined to help raise awareness.We talk about the Journey from helping RFS approach No 10 to her move to LA, her tragic accident where she very nearly lost her life to riding naked on a rollercoaster for her book ‘FOMO’We know you’ll love this podcast which talks about life, facing your fears and not missing out...

Recruit for Spouses - Introduction with Heledd & Chris

We are incredibly excited to bring you the first ever episode!It’s a chance for you to get to know who we are and what we do and also to find out what you can expect the podcast to be about.We have some brilliant guests lined up for you over the next few weeks and months so please sit back, relax and enjoy!Oh and please share, we are so passionate about the content of this podcast and how it can help military spouses that we want as many people as possible to hear it! Thanks