New podcast highlights untold stories of historic military spouses

Tulsa native and Army spouse Caroline Schafer is spotlighting untold stories of military spouses through her new podcast, Stories of Strength: Legacy of the Military Spouse, which launched May 21 on Spotify.

Schafer, who is married to Sergeant Major Justin Schafer, has been part of the military community for more than two decades.

Image Provided By: Caroline Schafer

Exploring the Hidden History of Military Spouses

The podcast dives into historical narratives of military spouses, starting with figures from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

Season one includes episodes on Martha Washington, Susie King Taylor, Julia Grant, Mary Anna Custis Lee, Mary Ludwig Hays—better known as Molly Pitcher—and Charlotte Forten Grimké.

Each episode aims to honor the resilience and service of these women, many of whom supported their spouses on and off the battlefield.

Schafer said she was inspired to create the podcast after writing an article on the 6888th Battalion, a group of African American women in World War II whose story was recently brought to wider attention by the 2024 Netflix film The Six Triple Eight.

Related Story: New war film honors all-Black, all-female WWII battalion's service featuring Oklahoma women

Filling a Historical Gap in Military Storytelling

Unlike other podcasts that focus on contemporary military spouse life, Schafer’s project looks to the past to highlight the legacy left by generations of spouses.

She believes these stories are crucial to understanding the often-unseen sacrifices and contributions made by those who don’t wear the uniform but serve in vital ways.

Celebrating the Legacy of Military Spouses

Schafer released the podcast in May, aligning it with Military Spouse Appreciation Month. She hopes it will not only educate listeners but also encourage more widespread recognition of military spouses’ contributions.

She encourages the public to reach out to military spouses they know with gratitude and gestures of appreciation, noting that their service is often quiet but profound.

“The legacy of the military spouse is one of compassion, kindness, fortitude, resilience, adaptability, service, and sacrifice,” Schafer said.

Listen to the Podcast

Stories of Strength: Legacy of the Military Spouse is now available on Spotify, with plans to expand to more platforms.

Listen to the first episode now.