Deshauna Barber: Pretty Furious About How Trauma Sneaks Up on Us, Dating Nightmares, and the Pressure to Start A Family

Deshauna Barber, former Miss USA 2016, joins Mallory & Maggie to discuss living life on your timeline, the journey to finding a partner, fertility & wanting to start a family, dating nightmares, and how millennials are superior to Gen Z-ers. Deshauna is an international motivational speaker, host, Army veteran, former Miss USA and founder of the Women Veterans For Change. Crowned Miss USA in 2016, Deshauna became the first soldier to win the title, and later she made history as the youngest President and CEO of the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN). She uses her ever-growing platform to advocate for increased support for soldiers with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she is the host of Sour Loss, Sweet Lessons podcast where she talks self care, self love, and self-improvement. 00:00 Welcome In & Product Recommendations03:07 Social Security Offices and the SAVE Act06:37 Welcome Deshauna Barber07:23 Nature vs. Nurture: The Drive to Succeed15:38 Navigating Toxic Relationships19:48 Finding True Partnership24:05 The Impact of Childhood Trauma28:45 Forgiveness and Healing37:43 Navigating Trauma and Recovery39:05 Forgiveness and Self-Reflection39:57 The Journey of Egg Freezing and IVF43:55 Planning for Parenthood45:05 Health and Fertility Awareness47:31 The Pressure of Societal Expectations48:50 Personal Growth and Change52:42 Fury or Fun: A Lighthearted Game *This episode was recorded on April 10, 2025, and aired on April 14, 2025.  Pretty Furious Pod is hosted by Maggie Gehlsen-Burnett and Mallory Hagan. Our mission is to validate the female experience, challenge societal norms, and drive conversation about newsworthy topics plaguing the modern woman’s world. Through impactful conversations and humor, we aim to inspire our audience to use the most powerful force in the world to drive meaningful change: their anger.  Follow us or send guest/topic suggestions @PrettyFuriousPod on TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, Substack, and YouTube. Visit our website at www.PrettyFuriousPod.com.This Week’s Product Mentions:  Elta MD UV Clear Tinted Sunscreen:https://www.dermstore.com/p/eltamd-uv-clear-tinted-broad-spectrum-spf46/11370312/ Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Setting Powder:https://www.sephora.com/product/airbrush-flawless-finish-setting-powder-P433526?country_switch=us&lang=en&skuId=2606085&om_mmc=ppc-GG_17789371101___2605988__9022120_c&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnui_BhDlARIsAEo9GusyNVw39w7NBvYp8bWJn4D6DFsb2NXWtM26ALTzQ-giasz4EdVT9pgaAkGeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Mary Kay Timewise Pore Minimizer:https://www.marykay.com/en-us/products/skincare/collection/timewise/timewise-pore-minimizer-990303243  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prettyfuriouspod.substack.com/subscribe