Dear Friends,

When I paused production of the Milspouse Matters podcast early in 2024 after five years of the show, I thought I might return to it some day. In fact, even though I said goodbye at the time, I wanted to leave the door open to come back if that's how God was leading me. But after much reflection, some life circumstances, and lots of prayer, I’ve decided it's time to officially close this chapter. Between writing, my editing job, and family commitments, there just isn’t enough time to keep every project going—and I want to give my best to what’s ahead.

Hosting the Milspouse Matters podcast and connecting with you has been one of the greatest honors of my life. What began as a small idea to encourage military spouses grew into something far beyond what I imagined (including my second book!), and I’m so proud of what we built together. It’s still crazy to me to think about people around the world listening to what I had to say as I recorded in my little home office. And I certainly couldn’t have done this without the countless amazing guests who gave their time to share their hearts and resources with other military families.

By the way, a HUGE shoutout to such a great team, including my dear friends, Lana Simmons and Tara Howes. I wouldn’t have been able to even launch the podcast back in 2018 without Lana’s expertise, and Tara was my podcast editor for years as well as a popular guest. Both fellow military spouses, both huge blessings. So thank you, ladies! Also, the look of the Milspouse Matters site and logo and the incredible resources and downloads were created so beautifully by another amazing military spouse, Tara from Olive Fox Design. So much talent!

A Look Back

️Before I say goodbye, I want to celebrate a few milestones we achieved as a community:

⭐Ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts worldwide for several years

🎙️115 episodes featuring heartfelt stories, conversations, humor, and practical tips

🌎Nearly 100,000 downloads from listeners in over 70 countries (this still blows my mind!)

🌎Countless messages from military spouses who found hope, laughter, and connection through the show

Your support made all of that possible, and I’m endlessly grateful!

What’s Next?

While there won’t be new episodes, newsletters, or social updates, you can still listen to the Milspouse Matters archives for a while longer. In the coming months, most of the other resources will be retired as the site transitions into a simple page linking to the podcast archives and my books.

Listen to the Archives

The Heart of Milspouse Matters Lives On

The mission of encouragement continues through my books:
You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse, a 30-day devotional for both hard and hopeful seasons, and Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories, real voices and encouragement from military spouses past and present.

Both remain available and make meaningful gifts for military spouses, old and new.

Find My Books

Stay in Touch!

Though the podcast and Milspouse Matters site are winding down, I’d love to stay connected. You can always find me at jen-mcdonald.com and subscribe to my author newsletter for updates on my latest writing, book news, and reflections on life, faith, and creativity.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey, from the very first episode to now. Your encouragement and friendship have meant the world to me. And as my grandmother always used to tell me when I had to say goodbye, and as I shared in my last episode…

It’s not “goodbye,” it’s “see you later.”

With heartfelt gratitude and so much love,