Savvy Spouse

30/09/2025

In this episode of Beyond Orders, I sit down with Lauren Cecora - a 16-year Air Force spouse, devoted mom of two daughters, homeschool parent, and author of Past-Partum. Lauren opens up about the challenges and triumphs of military family life, from navigating deployments to preparing for her husban...

05/09/2025

In this episode of Beyond Orders, we sit down with Kerissa Frigo. Veteran, military spouse, mom of two energetic boys, and now an Executive Assistant with Squared Away. Kerissa shares her journey from serving five years in the Air National Guard to navigating a decade of marriage through the highs a...

25/08/2025

In this episode of Beyond Orders, we sit down with Danielle Hillebrand, a professional body piercer with 17 years of experience and a proud military spouse of 8 years. Danielle’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of identity in the face of constant transition. Eac...

09/08/2025

Taylor Lingerfelt is a proud active duty Army spouse, mom of two, and Team Lead at Squared Away. She began her journey with the company in 2021 while at home with her kids, seeking a way to reconnect with her own identity. Over the years, she’s held multiple internal roles, growing her skills in l...

04/08/2025

This week on Beyond Orders, we sit down with Libby Jamison, a powerhouse attorney, policy strategist, and unapologetic advocate for military families. With nearly 20 years in law, government, and grassroots organizing, Libby has worked everywhere from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the West W...

21/07/2025

Military spouses aren’t “just support staff.” We’re leaders, innovators, and culture shifters and Jessica Ryan is living proof of that.

Jessica started with Squared Away in 2020 as a virtual assistant. She didn’t climb the ladder by being the loudest in the room. She did it by showing up, staying consistent, leading with empathy, and being ridiculously good at what she does.

Now, as our Chief People Officer, she’s shaping the culture for hundreds of military spouse virtual assistants and showing that quiet leadership can be just as powerful (if not more) than the loud kind.

If you’ve ever been underestimated or felt boxed into a “support” role, this episode of Beyond Orders is for you.

🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Iv7CrcWqyWPjGLdfiHqW7

Beyond Orders · Episode

21/07/2025

Military spouses, you’re already planners, trend-watchers, and low-key strategists (PCS life trained us well). Why not get paid for it?

Meet Kalshi – a regulated predictions market where you can trade on real-world events:

✅ Will mortgage rates drop next month?
✅ Will gas prices rise by August?
✅ Will the next Marvel movie break $1B?

If you’re right, you profit. It’s flexible, legit, and totally remote—perfect for a quick work-from-home side hustle for military spouses.

💡 Savvy Bonus: Sign up using this the link below, buy 100 shares to trade, and get $10 FREE to trade.

👉 Start here: https://kalshi.com/sign-up/?referral=fb5cd4d0-933d-4346-969b-1de06e54760e or check out our link in bio!

Because if you’re already following the news…you might as well make it pay.

21/07/2025

What does it take to grow from a virtual assistant to a trusted executive leader, all while proving that military spouses are some of the strongest leaders in the workforce? In this episode of Beyond Orders, Michelle Penczak, CEO of Squared Away, interviews Jessica Ryan, the company’s Chief People...

18/07/2025

💡 Side-hustle math that actually works

Military spouses and stay-at-home parents aren’t looking for “dream boards” — we’re looking for bank deposits.

Tell me: Would you rather make an extra $300 a month doing something creative (writing, crafting, coaching)…or $1,000 doing something you don’t love but that pays consistently?

There’s no wrong answer, only the one that works for YOUR family. Drop your answer below 👇

14/07/2025

In this episode of Beyond Orders, host Michelle Penczak, CEO of Squared Away and military spouse, sits down with Sara Brooks-Glover, Chief Operations Officer at Squared Away, to talk about career growth, remote leadership, and scaling systems in a mission-driven company. Sara shares her inspiring jo...

06/07/2025

Some episodes stay with you and this is one of them.

This week on Beyond Orders, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Tiffany McCawley. She's a military spouse, a mom of five, and someone whose strength and faith will stop you in your tracks.

In 2015, Tiffany faced the unthinkable; the loss of two of her children. What followed wasn’t a highlight reel. It was grief, grace, rebuilding, and choosing purpose over pain. She shares what it means to keep going when your world falls apart, and how showing up for others became part of her healing.

If you’ve ever needed permission to not be okay, and still keep moving, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen now: https://beyondorders.podbean.com/e/from-grief-to-grace-tiffany-mccawley-s-story/

📖 Read more of Tiffany’s story: theclanmccawley.blogspot.com

💛 Support causes close to her heart:
letthemlive.org
whilewerewaiting.org
backpackfriends.org
ridesafefoundation.org

06/07/2025

In this deeply moving episode of Beyond Orders, host Michelle Penczak sits down with Tiffany McCawley, a military spouse and mother of five whose faith and resilience leave a lasting impression. Tiffany became part of the Squared Away team in 2020, but her journey began long before that. In 2015, Ti...