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 Recommendations

03:07 Social Security Offices and the SAVE Act

06:37 Welcome Deshauna Barber

07:23 Nature vs. Nurture: The Drive to Succeed

15:38 Navigating Toxic Relationships

19:48 Finding True Partnership

24:05 The Impact of Childhood Trauma

28:45 Forgiveness and Healing

37:43 Navigating Trauma and Recovery

39:05 Forgiveness and Self-Reflection

39:57 The Journey of Egg Freezing and IVF

43:55 Planning for Parenthood

45:05 Health and Fertility Awareness

47:31 The Pressure of Societal Expectations

48:50 Personal Growth and Change

52:42 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