Some people want to do something bigger right from the very beginning of their lives. Once they get the opportunity to begin on that journey, they don’t look back. Fortunately for all of us, many people with that drive make the decision to do so by spending time in military service.

In this interview, Mary Kate Soliva welcomes Jennifer Foxworthy, U.S. Navy Veteran and the Founder and CEO of Inspirationally Speaking, LLC and Unstoppable You Ministries, Inc.

Jennifer speaks with Mary Kate about:

• What it was like being one of a very few Black members of her Naval unit, and often the only Black woman

• Why her Christian faith is an important part of her personal relationships and professional drive

• The drive to become a substance abuse counselor and how they changed her perspective on working with people

Some people want to do something bigger right from the very beginning of their lives. Once they get the opportunity to begin on that journey, they don’t look back. Fortunately for all of us, many people with that drive make the decision to do so by spending time in military service.

Intro/Outro (00:02):

Welcome to veteran voices, a podcast that dedicated to giving a voice to those that have served in the United States, armed forces on this series, jointly presented by supply chain now, and vets to industry. We sit down with a wide variety of veterans and veteran advocates to gain their insights, perspective, and stories from serving. We talk with many individuals about their challenging transition from active duty to the private sector, and we discuss some of the most vital issues facing veterans today. Join us for this episode of veteran voices.

Mary Kate Soliva (00:48):

Hello everybody. This is Mary Kate Soliva with veteran voices. Thank you for joining us today. As we’ve got a wonderful conversation teed up with a veteran and an incredible advocate and just selfless person stay tuned for a great discussion. Quick programming note before we get started, this program is part of the supply chain. Now family and today’s show is conducted in partnership with our friends at BES industry. Hi Brian and the BES industry team love y’all. And I wanted to talk about, if you do want to check out best industry, make sure you check out Bess to industry.org. Learn more about this powerful nonprofit that is serving so many folks. They help me during my transition and they’re absolute, incredible, and an initiative near and dear to my heart, the Guam human rights initiative. You can find them on LinkedIn and Guam H i.org. And if you go to LinkedIn, you can find them with the university of Guam under the regional center for public policy. Okay. Without further ado, let’s introduce our special guest today. Our guest served in the United States Navy great Navy, and she is founder and CEO of inspirationally speaking, LLC, and unstoppable you ministries. I’m a longtime fan of hers and I just am so grateful to introduce her to all of you, Jennifer Foxworthy, Jennifer. Hassis so glad to have you on veteran voices.

Jennifer Foxworthy (02:25):

Hello, Mary Kay. I <inaudible>.

Mary Kate Soliva (02:28):

I know you too. I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you so much for joining me on veteran voices.

Jennifer Foxworthy (02:35):

Oh, it is an honor. It’s a pleasure. I would do anything for you. So it’s, it’s it’s on and popping as they say,

Mary Kate Soliva (02:43):

Well, it was just talking. We were just laughing about how the roles are reversed now. Cuz when I was transitioning off the active duty, you had me come on an episode with you as a panelist speaker. And so now the roles are reversed and I’m gonna give it a shot. You know, a little bit of pressure here since you are the pro host and uh, but just really excited to get, let the world know who you are. And so I’d like to get this show going with some motivation, some inspiration just as we did when we were on active duty and the alarms went off and we got pumped up by our instructors.

Jennifer Foxworthy (03:22):

<laugh> yeah.

Mary Kate Soliva (03:23):

And so do you have something to, to share with us today, something to get us going?

Jennifer Foxworthy (03:27):

Absolutely. Mary Kay. I have many quotes that inspire me even scriptures, but I wanted to share this one with your audience. It says it’s by unknown a bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings always be leave. So that is the quote for this podcast starting out. I hope it motivates your audience to just believe.

Mary Kate Soliva (04:05):

I absolutely love that. And just even the visual of just relying on our own wings and what we’re already capable of doing our, you know, our giving gifts and just being able to use that as such a blessing. I’ve never actually heard that quote. So I really love that you shared that with us this morning and today and hope that our listeners today will take that away and be pumped up about it. Cuz I know I am. So I’m about to take this. This is the part that I like my guests on this show like Mary, are you sure you wanna go way back, but I’m like, I’m gonna go way back. We’re gonna, we’re gonna go way, way back. Instead of just talking about your time and service, I really want to start with your upbringing and where you grew up and you know, just really get a, a glimpse of window into who you are, where, where you started from your roots.

Jennifer Foxworthy (04:56):

Well, like you said, my name is Jennifer Foxworthy and I grew up in York, Pennsylvania. So people think of you’re south central, Pennsylvania, if you’ve ever heard of Hershey park or Harrisburg. Oh yeah. Or even the Amish country, Lancaster. So York is all around those areas. It’s a very fruitful county city. I grew up, I would say core. I didn’t lack, but we did struggle my home environment. Wasn’t the most conducive for a child. And I tell people my parents were caught in their own adultness. It wasn’t that they weren’t great people. They just weren’t great together. And unfortunately I inherited that generational curse and it continues to go back. I went to Catholic school first to eighth grade and then decided that I wanted to go to public school for high school. And I couldn’t afford to go to college. Like the rest of my classmates. I was good in sports, but not fantastic. I was smart, but not to get scholarships or anything like that. And again, painting that picture of low income housing government assistance. So I decided at, in 10th grade that I wanted to join the Navy. So I was on a delayed entry program for two years and I’m like 10th grade. I knew what I wanted

Mary Kate Soliva (06:30):

To do 10th grade in, in 10th grade. Did you end up and that’s the thing about with your Pennsylvania is when I think of York, I don’t think of the water. So the fact that you chose the Navy over the, over the other branches, uh, I, but I, I wanted to see if, um, during that, that time, did you have anybody that took you under their wing? Did you have any, any sort of lesson learned anecdotes from that time from anybody? I mean, like you said, 10th grade Navy was some guy in a sharp Navy uniform, walked into school and said, come join the Navy.

Jennifer Foxworthy (07:04):

Not really. I knew that if I, the crowd that I was hanging around that if I didn’t leave the area, I knew I was smart. And I knew that I had so a lot of potential and I’m so grateful for my dad’s side of the family who were very loving, educated. And they just, when I would see them, they took me in and was just tremendous. However, I knew I would end up maybe a bunch of children because I was promiscuous because of low self-esteem. I was trying to feel that void looking for love and acceptance because I was bullied throughout my life because of my skin color, being dark skin, my full lips, my basically my outer appearance during that time was not considered attractive. And I faced a targets, you know, from many people you, kids are cruel. I know that now, but when you’re the, in the receiving end and a child and you don’t have anyone at home to help you process what you’re experiencing, we just internalize it.

Jennifer Foxworthy (08:13):

And it comes out in unhealthy ways. So I had a cousin of mine that lived with my grandmother who was going to a local college and I was like, oh my goodness, you mean black people are educated and could go to college. But I knew that and she was so beautiful, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to afford college and, or had the fortitude to try and get scholarships and all those different types of things. I had a Navy, a cousin that was in the Navy. I had some uncles that were in the service and some other relatives that were in different branches, but I, I did a, a deduction like, uh, no army, no Marines, not sure of the air force

Mary Kate Soliva (09:03):

Deduction. I wanna see this deduction list.

Jennifer Foxworthy (09:06):

Yes. I just kinda deduced as far as what would be a, and I was like, maybe I can swim. I was a recreational swimmer, but I can swim. And so I chose the Navy and I told my parents that I wanted to go in. So they took me into a recruiter and there started my delayed entry program for two years. Yeah. And that really helped keep me focused as a young girl, I grew up Mary Kay. I grew up around, it was not uncommon to grow up with pimps prostitutes friends that had several kids or abortions or domestic violence, homelessness. That was my neighborhood. That was my surrounding. So I tell people it’s important to expose your children to more than just that, because there’s a vision beyond their current reality. And because on, at least on my father’s side, I saw the potential that of college and being educated and doing well in having nice homes. I’m like, this is obtainable. So that’s, that was my childhood.

Mary Kate Soliva (10:22):

And just your level of perseverance, I mean, as a child, it is interesting how you said about how you didn’t, you realize it now, but you didn’t realize it. Then I think when were going through that, uh, just having that goal just helped you get through all those trials and tribulations that you were experiencing that were of no fault of your own, but just a, a result of the environment that you were in and you found your way out of that. And, and the thing is I love cuz just knowing you is that you ended up going around the world. You’ve been to so many places and you’re back where you grew up. And I just, you know, and, and you think that for other folks who may have gone through what you went through, they would want nothing to do with where, you know, where they started from.

Mary Kate Soliva (11:09):

But just in knowing you as a person, you’re just so humble and you want to give back and you want, you are that inspiration for that little girl that grew up in York PA that’s thinks that there’s nothing beyond what’s in front of her and what’s around her. And so, gosh, that gives me goosebumps. I mean, just hearing and, and knowing how far you come, but I know our listeners aren’t there yet. They’re like, what is she talking about? So I, I do want to transition, uh, to your, to that time in the Navy and give us a glimpse about, you know, you said where you serve, but for how long did you serve and where did you go during that time? Cause I know you had a vast career.

Jennifer Foxworthy (11:47):

Absolutely. I didn’t set out to diversify my portfolio, so to speak in the Navy. But I definitely, during my 21.7 years, I truly diversified my portfolio. And when I say that, when I joined, I knew that I wanted to retire. I wanted to at least do 20 years. Even at that young age, I wanted to make it a career. So my first four years was a ocean system, tech analyst. And it was a job that was mainly on land. It wasn’t on ships or, or anything like that. You could volunteer to maybe go to a Sur task ship, but basically, and ocean system tech analyst, or a OTA, we detected localized and track enemy ships in submarines. So my very first duty station was AAC, Alaska. Then we had training in Virginia Beach and dam, net, Virginia. So a AC Alaska. So I’m out there on the Ellucian chain, eight years old, first 30 state.

Jennifer Foxworthy (12:54):

<laugh> I tell you what this city girl, there’s no trees except like 13 trees, nothing but Tundra. I’m seeing moose. I’m seeing whales jump out of the ocean. It’s cold. I’m what an experience. I’m closer to the Russia than I was to the main land of the United States. And I grew, I, I learned to grow up real quick and rely on the people that I was stationed with. They became my family, you know, dealing with the time distance. So waking up super early, staying up super late to try and talk to your family. Things that people take for granted. I’m like maybe everybody should be stationed in a remote area for 18 months. And then they would truly see that a United States is the greatest country in America. We may have our problems, but when you don’t have access to family, when your food has to come on a barge, when you there’s so many things that we have in the mainland that you don’t in the remote, you were stationed in Guam.

Jennifer Foxworthy (14:00):

So you, you can imagine what that’s like in the spring and summer, it’s eight daylight and in the fall and winter, it’s 18 hours of darkness. So definitely a, a culture shock. Then I was stationed would be out in Washington. And then because we were on the, the downside of the cold war, right, is when the military decided we’re going to take some of these Navy jobs that look for enemy ships and submarines, and we’re going to start converging them. And me being on basically a shore duty or a land based job. I accumulated a lot of stuff. And to tell me that I’m now going to have to go to, to a ship, go figure, Jennifer, you join the Navy. I got spoiled my first four years. I said, and then I found out, oh, I can do this job in airplanes as an aviation warfare operator.

Jennifer Foxworthy (15:06):

So my slick self I’ll put in a package. I’m not gonna go with this force conversion, uh, to a sonar tech, which is nothing but sea time. I’m actually, I’m not afraid to fly. I’ll do it in the airplane. So I put in my package to go air crew Naval air crew. And it was a lot of swimming in my prime. So a lot of as air crew, you’re flying in the airplane, you’re doing your job in the airplane. And if there’s a malfunction, you gotta know how to parachute out of that airplane. Or if you are on land, how to survive off of the land and swimming. So a lot of that, and I didn’t realize how rare I was, Mary Kate

Mary Kate Soliva (15:54):

Hear it, the class Ely, incredible.

Jennifer Foxworthy (15:57):

Oh, good gracious. It, they classed up every week. There was some African American, there were some black young men that were in the different classes. But when I looked to my left or right, I was the only black female, only black female for throughout this whole training. And the time that I was there and when I graduate and I actually had got held back because I didn’t do my mile swim in the allotted time. So I got put on remedial and when I was able to redo it, I was able to swim a mile in 68 minutes. Yeah. My side stroke.

Mary Kate Soliva (16:36):

I would’ve done drown by then. <laugh> really?

Jennifer Foxworthy (16:40):

Yes. My side stroke. I did all the laps in the side stroke. Well,

Mary Kate Soliva (16:45):

Put the apples in the basket, right. Is they say, put, put the,

Jennifer Foxworthy (16:48):

And that scissor kick. Absolutely. Our legs, that scissor kick cause women, we got these strong thighs. Oh yeah. And I just used it to my advantage. I didn’t know. You could actually sweat in a pool <laugh> yeah. So all those lab,

Mary Kate Soliva (17:02):

I imagine that, did they, have you just, just like, I know this, like I actually talked to a woman who was one of the first academy grads and she was talking about how the bathing suits were designed her time to have like a pocket in the front with a zipper to put their menstrual things in there. And I was just thinking like, who designed that? And, and I was just like, thinking of like your, your, your bathing suit, like you were like the, you said the only black woman in there was, and I’m sure they were like in shorts and stuff, but did you get like a special bathing suit that you got just from that time, you know, just typical regular.

Jennifer Foxworthy (17:38):

Yep. Typical black Navy swimsuit. Now there were white females, obviously there, but yeah. As far as dark skin, I was it. And I found out when I graduated the school, I came off of the field and there was an African American, I think he might have been a master chief. He was over the, the school, like the training school or the holding part. And he came up to me. He was like, do you know what you just did? And I’m like, or yeah, I, I just graduated. He said, you are the first African American that he is aware that he was aware of to graduate that school in more than 10 years.

Mary Kate Soliva (18:21):

That’s absolutely amazing. And you didn’t even know that was the thing that was even like a driving force for you. You’re just like, I’m gonna do this.

Jennifer Foxworthy (18:29):

Right. I had no clue. Yeah. I’m not paying attention to other people’s skin colors or that I’m different. I’m just trying to get through this school the best that I can. And then to know that I w I dealt with a lot of stereotypes. I had one of the swim instructors tell me that the reason why I struggle with my swim strokes and everything else is because as a black woman, my body type won’t allow me to swim like my colleagues. And I’m like, really, really. So I used his words as my fuel to set a fire in me even more that I’m going to show you. And I did all the swimming, evolutions, the running evolutions, climbing up the eight, eight foot wall. Um, basically you think of American ninja warrior, and I’m having to deal with it looking like a sugar cookie, cuz I’m climbing under, you know, I’m crawling under these, these low barriers in beach sand. So yeah, I look like a sugar cookie <laugh> I think that’s what they cause <laugh> so I did it all and, but I, that was just the beginning of what I would experience over the next 15 years where I ended up being the first in three different Navy squadrons based on my gender and skin color as a Naval air grooming

Mary Kate Soliva (19:52):

That’s and I, and I’m so grateful that you shared your story because I haven’t met anyone else. Like you you’re the first, even for me, like you’re the first one that I know to have had that experience. I mean, you were literally doing a little bit of everything. Some people’s just like one particular skill that, and school that they’re getting through, but yours required you to do a vast number of different things. And to demonstrate that skillset, not just to, for the sake of doing it, but for your safety, the safety of your crew and survival, and so absolutely amazing,

Jennifer Foxworthy (20:26):

Mary Kay, I’ll share this real quick with your listeners. So my last three years, I wanted to continue to do something bigger than myself and I, I went to like a special programs and became a substance abuse counselor. And that was grueling. The training in that in itself is grueling because I was basically a counselor or therapist for our service members or, and their families who struggle with abuse and addiction of substances. And many of them were fighting for their careers or losing their careers, especially if they got DUIs and things like that. So I always wanted to do something bigger than myself. And that’s how I ended my career as an E seven, a chief petty officer. My last tour was a substance abuse rehabilitation program, counselor and my Naval air crew. I was a aviation technician. So I fixed the electronics on the airplane.

Jennifer Foxworthy (21:27):

I flew combat missions in three different wars, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. I logged over 3,700 flight hours. And so it was rare seeing a, a woman and then a black woman in an aviation flight suit with, I was looking like Tom hangs, you know, with this aviator’s jacket on walking around base and all eyes are on me. So it definitely faced, I had some challenges, but that’s adversity at the time. It wasn’t comfortable. Cuz I had leadership who was trying to sabotage my career. They weren’t used to someone who looked like me in the aviation field. So military is male dominated. And then in the aviation community, it’s Caucasian male dominated. So I just want to paint that picture for your audience right. Of what I experienced. But it was a fruitful career. I’ve been over 27 different countries. I’ve literally driven around the United States and I’ve been to 49 out of 50 states. The only state I haven’t been to is North Dakota.

Mary Kate Soliva (22:35):

Oh you gotta fix that one. But goodness. Yeah, it

Jennifer Foxworthy (22:37):

Was my

Mary Kate Soliva (22:38):

List. I’m like, cause, cause you see like we, the, that uh, for the blue angels, did you see that? Yes. So I mean making history right as for that first female, I know there’s other women that have, have flown a fighter pilot, but the fact that she’s able to, she’s gonna be flying with the blue angels is incredible. And, and it’s just like, that’s why I love when I, my family talks about like what I think about my service and I love that I get to do this. I get to talk to women like you, the pioneers who are the first to do different things. And so it’s just so inspiring for me. It’s not something I have to read about in a history book. Like we’re living it now, but it also amazes me and blows my mind that it’s even taking this long, obviously when you consider the age of our nation and our military, but it’s still, I am grateful to, to serve now.

Mary Kate Soliva (23:30):

And like you said, with the, the greatest militaries and the greatest Navy for you. So I really love, love that you give back. I think that it’s a testimony to, to where you came from, what you experienced and, and what you continue to do now. And so if you were in, like you said, for our audience today, we may have those who are in transition right now. I would love if you could give them some words of wisdom during, after all those trials and tribulations, you went through sort of what your transition was like. And if you had have any advice for those transitioning now,

Jennifer Foxworthy (24:08):

You know what I think because of what I experienced and what I’ve saw, what I’ve seen throughout my, my military time and then transitioning to the military, that’s why I have the brand and the model let’s get fit. That’s on the for-profit side for inspirationally speaking and you know, it’s military. We ha we make an acronym out of everything. That’s true. So fit is focused, intentional and thriving. So if I can impart any type of wisdom, you must maintain, focus on your goals. And that may mean cutting time out with certain family or friends or keeping people at bay. Because if your piece is distracted, you will get off. Focus. Also stay intentional once you know what you want to do, take measures by any means necessary to achieve that. So I knew I wanted to be a motivational speaker. Somebody brought to my attention about Toastmasters.

Jennifer Foxworthy (25:11):

I did my research. I was like, I think I could benefit from this. And now I’ve been a Toastmasters for over nine years. It has built my confidence to where I am no longer a podium speaker, but I can walk the stage and I can demand five figure speaking jobs and speak in front of thousands of people comfortably. That’s what Toastmasters did for me. I was intentional and I also have a bachelor’s in communications. So it wasn’t just right. Oh, I’m just going like a lot of people, I wanna be a motivational speaker and they just think getting up to a microphone and that’s it. But they don’t understand it’s a craft. And I study my craft. I work at my craft. So I was intentional. And therefore, because I’m focused intentional now I’m able to thrive cuz I don’t wanna just exist as an entrepreneur, as a motivational speaker or having a nonprofit, I want to thrive because what I do impacts others. Yes. So that’s the wisdom that I would impart to your audience

Mary Kate Soliva (26:21):

And in such a positive way too. And did you know you’re so called? Why as you were transitioning, like I know you wanted to give back, but was there sort of a turning point where you’re like, this is what I wanna do.

Jennifer Foxworthy (26:36):

I knew that I wanted to get in the realm of human services, especially after being a substance abuse counselor.

Mary Kate Soliva (26:44):

Right.

Jennifer Foxworthy (26:45):

And dealing with those theories Maslow’s hierarchy or motivation to change and just all those different things to help people see a better way of life that I am a people person. I love people. I’m a super extrovert. So you can imagine during COVID and shutdowns, I didn’t do very well. I had to find an escape and going out in nature was my selfcare going glamping. So to speak with my family, that was

Mary Kate Soliva (27:14):

No animals, right? Jennifer, no animals.

Jennifer Foxworthy (27:17):

Oh, right. You know exactly. I don’t want ’em in my home, but I’ll go in their home. Go figure

Mary Kate Soliva (27:23):

<laugh>.

Jennifer Foxworthy (27:25):

So, but that was the situation is I want people to live their best life. And as a Christian, you know, if it draws them closer to Jesus Christ, then so be it. But just to provide that hope that all people are not bad and to restore their hope in humanity, but regardless of what their faith is or not faith is, I love people. I just, I just wanna see people doing well. And as you know, Mary Kay people experiencing hard times, emotional, mental abuse and neglect, and we’re all over the map with our, our wellness. How can I be that change agent for someone to be like, wow, if Jennifer can do it, so can I, if Mary Kate can do it, so can I we’re touchable. We’re humble. Yeah. We really inter engage and interact with people. So that’s what I want people to see. Like, oh, if I reach out to Jennifer and say, I need a mentor or something like that, I’m gonna respond and I’m gonna make time for that person because I would want people to make time for me. And that’s my driving force.

Mary Kate Soliva (28:57):

That’s absolutely beautiful. And I can definitely say that you were somebody that during my transition just last year, can you believe Jennifer? I haven’t even been out of, uh, off of active duty for a year yet. It hasn’t even been a year yet. And it’s just, but I know when I was transitioning, I still hadn’t figured out what I wanted to do. And I was so sometimes it’s hard to figure out where to start. It’s like, okay. And, and then we may have all the confidence in the world because you know, we served in the military and a lot of us are type a personalities, but it’s a real wake up call and you really have to humble yourself that it’s a big world out there and we’re not necessarily accepted in all spaces, but we have to try to find our place. And like you said, even the pandemic, it was tough.

Mary Kate Soliva (29:41):

And to find yours in nature, that’s so important to have that balance. So to go after what we want and be able to give and pour onto others, but also that self-care to balance that out as well. And you were definitely someone that inspired me. I hadn’t even heard of Toastmasters. And now I’m in Toastmasters cuz you had just one conversation with you about it. And so that’s, you just don’t know where one conversation’s gonna change a life. And so that’s why for even absolutely. Yeah. And even to just empower and encourage, cuz never once Jennifer, like in our calls while, um, you know, you were mentoring me, did you ever say like, oh you probably shouldn’t do that. You know, that’s not the right answer. It’s like, instead you, you had me, you sort of put it in the form of a question of like, is that what you would like to do?

Mary Kate Soliva (30:28):

Or, or even introducing me to other things that are out there, other events, because I did come across people that claim to be mentors and I would reach out to them and they’re like, that’s a terrible idea. Or the, they, they really shut down what I wanted to do. And, and then I felt so small and then I would sort of shrivel up and mm-hmm <affirmative> and I think it’s just important for us to know, to surround ourselves with the people who are going to uplift us and empower us and be able to help us foster that growth. And um, you’re definitely one of them for me, Jennifer. So I’m so grateful to be able to share your story with everybody else so they can see how fabulous you are. <laugh>

Jennifer Foxworthy (31:08):

You are so amazing. I’m so proud of you. So super proud of you, but you are walking in it and it’s such a delight and we don’t have that jealousy or rivalry when you are around people who truly want to see you win. It’s extraordinary. You can take off the mask, the chains, whatever holds us back and be like, you know what authentically I know Mary Kay has my back authentically. Jennifer has my back and therefore you’re not afraid to introduce me to another colleague who may need help or, or guidance or whatever the case is. And so another quote is if you’re the only one in your circle doing it inspiring, then you need a new group of friends.

Mary Kate Soliva (31:58):

Oh wow.

Jennifer Foxworthy (31:59):

Yeah. We should be able to inspire each other. Cause Mary, you definitely inspire me. Well, thank

Mary Kate Soliva (32:06):

You. And it’s it’s gosh, it’s so powerful. And I always say like when I am in a room with, I’d say especially women, I’m just like, I’m very much inspired. I have incredible male mentors, but when I am in a group with surrounded by a group of women and they’re doing just really selfless, incredible things and empowering, I feel like on a different high <laugh> like I’m on a different level, the adrenaline. And I know they, they tell us it’s gonna come back down eventually, but that’s where it’s so good to know who you, you can call up at any time. And it’ll, it’ll feel like it was just yesterday that you spoke to him even if two months, three months go by. Um, but being able to foster that kind of relationship that we look out for one another is absolutely incredible. It’s why I love the fact that we’re veteran sisters and that we have this relationship, unlike any other profession out there, uh, that we can always lean on one another and know that we’re not going through this alone.

Mary Kate Soliva (33:02):

And so whether it is something, whether we had a Rocky military career and you got caught up in addictions in alcohol, you know, if you’re divorce, see whatever it is, abuse that, to know that it’s, that’s not the end, that there’s still so much more of life that you have left to give to this world. And that you can use your experience to be able to empower and inspire others. And you’re a hundred percent doing that. Jennifer, in so many ways, I wanna talk about what you’re doing now. I want you to be able to share with everybody about your for-profit, your non-profit let, let us know where you’re at now and, and how that all came to fruition.

Jennifer Foxworthy (33:41):

So my first business inspiration speaking that was started, I retired in April, 2013 and by may or June, that was my official business up and going that for profit. And I knew that I wanted to be a motivational speaker and for people to take me seriously, I’m like I could go under speaker bureaus, but I wanna be able to have that control if I need to do something for free or be flexible in my fee to be able to do that. Mm. So that’s hence inspiration speaking, because I’m a domestic violence survivor and thriver. I wanted to write my first book. Yes, tomorrow my sunshine will come memoires of women who survived domestic violence. So I wrote and self-published that, but it not only has my story, but it has five other women who had the courage to share their story with me. And I will lecture audience know tomorrow.

Jennifer Foxworthy (34:36):

My sunshine will come five of those six. We experienced our abuse while serving in the military. So I wanted people to know, and that ended up being one of my platforms because domestic violence is like a dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about. And when we think of our armed forces, we think strong, no weakness and bravery and everything else, but the domestic violence is happening right through the ranks in all branches and for women. And even those who are experiencing who are are LGBTQ, it’s hard to come forward. We suffer in silence because we don’t wanna show that weakness. So we just deal with it. And many times I know for me, I didn’t even know what I was in. So domestic violence awareness became a platform for me. And in addition to me being a veteran, so on veteran’s day or October, so in November, October, I would be busy because domestic violence awareness and then being a veteran, then I realized I have some leadership skills that I can pull on as well.

Jennifer Foxworthy (35:49):

I’m not a one trick pony. And I included leadership and team building into my repertoire speaking. Then I was given an opportunity to have my own television show living UN shackled on purpose, where I actually purchased paid programming slots on TV and would interview different people. So my show would come on dish network, Comcast, Verizon files, and all various other channels. I could even de you know, yeah, I could DVR my own show. I’m like, wow, there I am on TV, 2.3 million household reach in six different states. I don’t know if all were watching, but that was it. But it was absolutely incredible. Once COVID happened, I switched to a virtual opportunity and television shows are costly. Yes. I also had the unstoppable you conference. So all of these platforms were under my, for profit and Mary Kay. You may know that I didn’t realize I was doing nonprofit causes under a for-profit business.

Jennifer Foxworthy (37:04):

In my mind. I’m just doing what God is calling me to do and to try and empower and impact people in a positive way. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. But in my conference, we were actually giving makeovers to homeless men and women. We would donate tickets to shelters and youth detention centers so that those students can be empowered and be exposed to an unstoppable atmosphere. But I was struggling financially to pay the bills, because that was one thing that the military, they don’t really teach you as far as if when you transition and you’re an entrepreneur and you wanna have these different events, you set your ticket sales and go for sponsorship and donations to pay for that. But I had such a, a soft heart. I was doing a giving a lot of tickets for free, like to shelters and those type of organizations, because they don’t put in their budget training opportunities for their clients.

Jennifer Foxworthy (38:08):

And I was starting to struggle whatever. And here I am on a retired income disability. So whatever I wasn’t getting from ticket sales or in kind donation was coming directly outta my pocket. But this conference was meaning so much to so many. So finally it was suggested. And for over two years, people were saying, Jennifer, you really need to start a nonprofit. You really need to start a nonprofit. And I, I was like, no way, I got one business. I’m barely making that work, not doing it two years. And then finally it came to a head to where I was struggling financially to do these events. And I was like, okay, I don’t want this to be an expensive hobby. Clearly I need to rearrange some things to rethink some things. I’ll look into this, cuz I’m like, I need a board or you know, just all the government bureaucrat stuff that you gotta deal with.

Jennifer Foxworthy (39:07):

And I’m like, I don’t wanna babysit other people. And you know, I’m a team of one, but being in the military, you’re not a team of one. But when you transition into civilian, not everybody has that mindset. So in the military, you got that mission. You got that goal. You got that job. Okay, Johnny, you do this. All right, Sandy, you do this. All right, Jennifer, you do this. There’s no poking and prodding for your colleagues in the military to get it done. Because if you wanna go home at a decent time, you get out there and you turn those wrenches or you clean that plane or do whatever is necessary in the civilian world. Everybody as slow and relaxed and

Mary Kate Soliva (39:53):

They’re gonna work as fast. They wanna work. You can’t, you can’t make, ’em go. <laugh> at your speed. Absolutely.

Jennifer Foxworthy (39:59):

Yes. Yeah. And everybody has a job and nobody’s trying to do any more, less. And so that’s the mindset I had in some of the experience. But when I started the unstoppable unit ministries to officially be the nonprofit in 2017, it was one of the best decisions I made because now I’m able to get those donations cuz people like tax deductions, Mary Kay. I thought people would just give to me because I had such a beautiful winning smile <laugh> yes, but that’s not the case. They like tax deductions. They like coming up the, a legal official organization that they can come alongside and say, okay, I see what you’re doing. You’re making a difference. So yes, I have these two businesses. They’re both thriving. So with the motivational speaking, um, doing the best that I can there and with the nonprofit, we provide services for those experiencing human trafficking, domestic violence and homelessness. I would just love to just give awareness, educate and make people aware of these three populations. Because then on the backside I can reduce somebody having to come to my organization, needing help needing that safety plan needing in a crisis needing shelter. Yes. So that’s what unstoppable ministries. That’s what we do.

Mary Kate Soliva (41:34):

That’s what I, I love that you continue to give back and that you listened to this other calling for you and that the other people, the messengers around you that were like, Jennifer do it, do it. I had a, a doctor mine one time an army doctor tell me, he’s just like the, the sweetest man, God rest his soul. But he told me one time that if five strangers tell you to do the same thing, that you should probably do it. You know? And, and one of those for me is writing a book. I’ve got so many people tell me to write a book and I’m like, I don’t have the bandwidth. I’ve already got all this other stuff going on. Just like you said, same answers. And just knowing that there are people out there that need us, but we only need to pick one tiny piece of the pie.

Mary Kate Soliva (42:20):

That problem that you’re talking about is a problem that is happening all around the world. But you don’t need to be trying to solve the world problem. You can just, you know, start out small, start out with what you can do and you start to grow out that network. And I think that’s something that is important to highlight. You talked about, I love that you started off with saying when you retired, because it wasn’t like, this is just something you started yesterday or you got off the ground within your first 12 months of, of retiring. This was something that you have worked so hard to develop and grow and surrounded yourself with the right people who are gonna continue to help you thrive and help inspire you to, to keep going. Cuz there are days that it’s hard to keep going right in the sense of with what we’re doing. And it’s much easier to throw in the towel, but we know there’s people that depend on us. So I really want listeners to be able to reach back out to you. You’re an incredible mentor, inspiring woman, veteran person. I, I just, you know, love you lots. And I just want our listeners to be, to reach out to you. So how what’s the best way is it to, for them to get ahold of you

Jennifer Foxworthy (43:28):

And people are social media savvy. I’m on LinkedIn, I’m on Facebook. I’m on Instagram. Those are the three main social medias that I use. I do have a Twitter account, but I’m not on there a lot. So I would encourage people, especially from a professional perspective, have that LinkedIn account, reach out to me, follow, uh, let’s follow each other. Let’s connect, send a message and let’s go from their building that relationship. That’s what Mary Kay and I that’s what you and I did. Yes. I’m also on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re looking for my motivational speaking services yes or anything dealing with that, reach out to me. My website for that is www dot inspirationally, speaking.com. You can email me, send a message, whatever you would like. And then for the nonprofit, if you have any questions, if you need any services or just want to know more, that website is, is www unstoppable you and that’s Y OU ministries inc.org at the end of the day, if you can’t remember anything else that I said, just Google Jennifer Foxworthy. And I will be sure to come up with my beautiful brown bubbly self, you’ll see a headshot. And then all these different businesses and social medias will come up. So again, if you can’t figure out anything else, just Google Jennifer Foxworthy.

Mary Kate Soliva (45:09):

And what about your book? Where can we find a book?

Jennifer Foxworthy (45:13):

Oh, good gracious. So tomorrow my sunshine will come S of women who survive domestic violence. Yes. If you want a personal autograph copy, I would encourage you to go to the inspirationally speaking website. I have a page where people can purchase it. I’ll get the notification. I’ll autograph it personally to that purchaser and ship it directly to them. The book is also available on online distributors, such as Amazon, walmart.com, Barnes and noble books, a million

Mary Kate Soliva (45:47):

Fantastic,

Jennifer Foxworthy (45:48):

All those different distributors. It’s online. However, if you get it from them, you’re not going to get that personal autograph copy. So you have to determine which one you want and the book is available, ebook and paperback. So that’s how you can get the published book. How you can reach out to me, whatever you need. I’m here for you.

Mary Kate Soliva (46:14):

I love that. And it is just such a powerful story. And again, you’re sharing your platform with other survivors and to be able to share their stories as well. And so I just love that you continue growing out this family and this community. And so if it, are there any less, any less parting words that you have for us today?

Jennifer Foxworthy (46:34):

Yeah. So under my nonprofit, if you happen to live in and around the York, Pennsylvania area, or just want to travel, I am hosting my 25th unstoppable U conference within nine years. So the conference has been on tour since 2013. We’ve, I’ve taken it to 10 different states and thousands of people, it has impacted it. We give makeovers to homeless men and women. We provide a safe environment for the domestic violence, human trafficking, juveniles who are caught in the justice system to attend this conference is for everyone from 12 up to adult men, women, and teenagers. We have vendors there. We have presenters that will speak on financial literacy. I even have a powerful, married couple that will be giving a marriage wellness presentation, overcoming adversity. I have somebody from Y WCA speaking on human trafficking. So if you were looking to be empowered and you want to network with amazing people, get your early birth ticket. Now again, you can visit the unstoppable you website or reach out to Mary Kay, she’ll get you in touch with me. Yes, but I guarantee you don’t wanna miss this opportunity, Mary Kay. I’m hoping. And it’s Saturday, November 5th from 10 to three 30. So there’s just so much available. But the fact that this has survived 25 conferences speaks volumes.

Mary Kate Soliva (48:15):

Yes, absolutely. And that you have so many other voices that you’re bringing to be able to share. And I absolutely love that. You’re willing to share your stage to just be able to, to spread that love and kindness so much more. And thank you so much. I’m on behalf of the entire team here at veteran voices. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Veteran sister, Jennifer Foxworthy. You’re an incredible human being. And just so grateful to know you. We invite all our listeners to find us and subscribe wherever you get your podcast from and a big thanks to, uh, vets to industry. Thank you so much for your support. And this is Mary Kate saliva wishing all of you and all of our listeners, nothing but the best stay motivated. Do good, give forward and be the change that’s needed. And on that note, we will see you next time. Thank you everybody.