Advertise on podcast: Drive On: Helping Veterans Navigate PTSD & Life After Military Service

Leaving the military can mean losing the responsibility you once carried, struggling to find meaningful work, or feeling disconnected from the people around you. Even with countless organizations dedicated to helping veterans, finding the right support can feel overwhelming. And sometimes, the biggest challenge is getting someone to listen. Recorded in person at the Military Influencer Conference (MIC), this special edition of Drive On Podcast brings together seven guests answering the same question: What challenge facing veterans deserves more attention, and what should the veteran listening know about it? Their responses reveal different sides of the veteran experience, along with a shared belief that veterans have the ability to help one another and influence meaningful change. Jesse Gould and Daniel O'Dell emphasize the power of veteran advocacy and personal stories to influence policies and raise awareness. Mike Nolan reminds veterans that their service matters, regardless of what they accomplished while wearing the uniform, and encourages them to lean on the bonds they built through service. Justin Rasik shares his personal experience of spending 17 years searching for something that worked for him, eventually finding help through 22Zero. His message encourages veterans who feel they've exhausted every option to keep looking for support. Chris Gonzalez challenges veterans to move beyond virtual connections and build real relationships in their communities. Greg Martin addresses veteran underemployment, the difficulty of moving from military leadership into civilian careers, and the importance of finding purpose outside the workplace. Bryan Anderson highlights inconsistencies across VA facilities while reminding veterans that support exists for challenges involving employment, finances, addiction, and mental health. These short conversations offer practical encouragement to speak up, reconnect with others, recognize the value of military service, and continue seeking help. The full interviews with these guests will be released on Drive On Podcast toward the end of this year and into early next year. Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of these conversations! Timestamps: 02:12 - Jesse Gould on the untapped power of veteran advocacy 03:13 - Mike Nolan on recognizing the value of your military service 05:31 - Justin Rasik on finding hope after years of searching for help 06:33 - Daniel O'Dell on how veteran stories can influence change 09:28 - Chris Gonzalez on rebuilding real community connections 10:26 - Greg Martin on veteran underemployment and finding purpose 12:18 - Bryan Anderson on inconsistent VA policies and available support Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Military Influencer Conference: https://militaryinfluencer.com/

Leaving the military left Michael O’Dell without the identity and structure he had relied on throughout his Marine Corps service. Alcohol had already been a problem before he enlisted, and after two deployments to Iraq, his life moved through treatment, arrests, fatherhood, and eventually a prison sentence. Michael describes the jail visit when his father asked whether he was finally done living that way, the fear he felt when prison structure was replaced by freedom, and the unexpected chain of events that led him to Warriors Heart. Now ten years sober and serving as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer, he explains why people cannot be forced into recovery, why the surrounding community matters, and how he came to see recovery as reclaiming relationships, finances, health, spirituality, and joy. The conversation also covers Warriors Heart’s forty-two-day treatment program for veterans, active duty military, and first responders. Michael explains how VA Community Care referrals may cover the full stay, how employment protections and short-term disability can help make treatment possible, and how families can access Warriors Anonymous Al-Anon meetings and referrals to Project Sanctuary. Timestamps: 00:04:35 – Entering the Marine Corps with an alcohol problem 00:10:42 – Facing freedom after two years in prison 00:15:20 – The prison letter that opened a new path 00:28:55 – His father asks if he is finally done 00:39:10 – Redefining recovery as reclaiming what was lost Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.warriorsheart.com/the-facility/ Follow Michael O’Dell on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warriorsheart Follow Michael O’Dell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warriorshearthealing/ Follow Michael O’Dell on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/warriorsheart22 Follow Michael O’Dell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warriors-heart/ ...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Military service can give you a mission and a clear sense of who you are, but when that identity is taken away before you’re ready, the loss can reach into every part of your life. A medical discharge, a health crisis, or a broken relationship can leave you facing a future that no longer resembles the one that you had planned. [00:00:21] Rebuilding begins when you stop. Allowing your rank, your work, your family roles, or other outside structures to define your entire identity. You can choose the person you wanna become and reinforce that identity through small, repeatable actions. Our guest today, Paul Miller, knows what it feels like to lose the ability to walk, leave the military before reaching retirement and watch several parts of his life collapse. [00:00:47] He shares how those experiences led him to create uncivilized rebirth, a framework centered on intentional identity visualization, daily discipline, and giving yourself enough grace to keep moving. [00:01:00] You will hear in this episode practical ways to begin rebuilding even during a season when something as small as making the bed feels like a victory. [00:01:09] Before we get into this episode though, I’d like to take a moment to raise awareness for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:01:24] This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:40] [00:02:01] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Paul. Welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here [00:02:05] Paul Miller: Man, I appreciate you having me on. This is, ~uh,~ really cool. Thank you [00:02:08] Scott DeLuzio: Y- yeah, no, absolutely. ~Um,~ before we jump into the conversation, for the listeners who are maybe just meeting you for the first time and not really familiar with you and who you are, can you share a little bit about who you are, your, your military background, and the stuff that you’re doing, ~uh,~ today? [00:02:22] Paul Miller: Yeah. So my name’s Paul Miller. Those are the sounds that were given to me at birth to identify this human body. ~Um,~ when I was like 16 or 17… No. Yeah, I decided to join the service. Joined when I was 18. I served for 16 years. I joined two weeks before 9/11. So, like, in my heart, it’s like I knew I joined for the right reasons. [00:02:47] Scott DeLuzio: Mm-hmm. Sure [00:02:48] Paul Miller: anyway, it wa- Well, it, like, lets me know that I didn’t join for some manipulation thing. I’m like… Anyway, served 16 [00:03:00] years. I did several tours in Iraq, a little bit of time in Kuwait. ~Um,~ I was infantry. ~Um,~ then I reclassed to combat medic. Then in about 2015, I came down with a rare disease, ~um,~ and I was in the Army National Guard, but I spent a lot of time on active duty orders for the war. [00:03:23] So there was, like, all this money floating around, you know, early on. So it’s like I got to spend a lot of time on active duty, which was good. And then in 2015, I got a rare diseas...

Read the full transcript 595 – Lee Stuckey === [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Coming home can leave a veteran carrying nightmares, feeling isolated, and feeling the pressure to look fine while everything underneath him is falling apart. Our guest today, Lee Stuckey, lived that reality after three Iraq deployments and an IED blast. At his lowest point, a phone call from his mother interrupted him as he was trying to take his own life. He eventually found a path back through service. The outdoors music, spiritual health, accountability, and self-assessment, that path became a hero. A community, Lee says, has served more than 13,000 veterans and first responders and helped prevent as far as he knows, more than as 600 suicides over 16 years. Lee shares how opening his farm to other veterans gave his pain a new direction. How Brazilian Juujitsu kept him connected to disciplined people and how a heroes four [00:01:00] pillars can help someone identify where life is breaking down. This episode will offer a look at rebuilding purpose, one decision and one relationship at a time. Before we get into this episode, though, I want to take a minute to raise awareness for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and serve as a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:58] Scott DeLuzio: Hey Lee, welcome to the [00:02:00] show. Really glad to have you here. [00:02:01] Lee Stuckey: Yeah, I’m so super excited to be on here, Scott. I appreciate the invitation. [00:02:05] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, you bet. ~Um,~ before we jump into the conversation, for the listeners who are, uh, maybe meeting you for the first time and not familiar with who you are, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? [00:02:14] Lee Stuckey: Yeah, so, so the condensed version is, uh, military school introduced me to the Marine Corps as a young wayward child. And, you know, mischievous, I tell everybody, mischievous, not malicious. I didn’t go outta my way to be like evil or, or create bad things. I was always the class clown, you know, just like to, to get in the middle of stuff. ~Uh,~ the teachers probably didn’t appreciate me at all of the ones I was asked to leave. And then eventually ended up at a place called Marion Military Institute, and that’s where I met my first Marine, who was a Staff Sergeant Sutton. Now, uh, when, when I left there, he was gunny, but just, just, I remember looking back, going through a lot of stuff in my life and getting into a lot of things. He carried himself in just a whole [00:03:00] different demeanor and a manner than everybody else around him. And he definitely stood out to me. And so fast forward to college, go to Auburn University, uh, make a zero really good at partying. Terrible at studying, uh, social butterfly with a bowl cut. I looked like Justin Bieber with the hair where you have to do this. And just a pudgy fraternity boy as a Sigma new at Auburn and just wasn’t going anywhere and, and really, you...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Combat does not stay neatly contained in the past. It can follow a veteran into work, marriage, parenthood, and the moments when the mind has nowhere left to hide. The hope that many veterans have is to reach a point where those experiences can be faced without letting them dictate every part of life. [00:00:19] Our guest today, Justin Morseth, shares how the Iraq invasion, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, and years of suppressing what happened overseas shaped his return home. He explains how treatment, prolonged exposure therapy, and finally allowing himself to be vulnerable helped him find a healthier version of himself. [00:00:41] He also shares in this episode the mission behind Pets Healing Vets, where veterans and shelter animals are matched and supported together. This conversation offers a direct look at combat, invisible wounds, and the difficult work of accepting help before the damage spreads further. [00:01:00] Before we get into this episode, though, I wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something I feel is deeply important to our community, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. [00:01:10] This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. [00:01:27] If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOTmemorialfoundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:35] [00:01:48] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Justin, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here [00:01:51] Justin Morseth: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it [00:01:54] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, no, and I appreciate you being here as well. ~Um, uh,~ for the listeners maybe who aren’t familiar with you and who you are, could you share a little bit [00:02:00] about, ~uh,~ who you are and, and, ~uh,~ your, a little bit about your background, ~uh,~ before we get started here, just to kinda set the stage for who we’re talking with? [00:02:06] Justin Morseth: Yeah, sure. ~Um,~ I am Justin Morseth. I, ~uh,~ am a former United States Army infantry officer, more notably known as, ~um,~ I was a rifle platoon leader with the 3rd Infantry Division during the initial ground invasion of Iraq. to joining the Army, I, ~uh,~ attended Denison University in Ohio, ~um,~ before I commissioned, and I grew up in Ohio. ~Um,~ currently I live in Bloomington, Indiana, where I do a lot of public speaking with the university about combat trauma and TBI and PTSD and moral injury and all things like that. And I’ve been doing that now for about six to eight years, and it’s been really, ~uh,~ rewarding for me, both, ~uh,~ for myself and for the students or law enforcement and all kinds of people that I usually, ~um,~ speak with [00:02:50] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, and you know, it, so you’ve been doing that for six to eight years. I’ve been doing this show for about seven years. I’m, I’m surprised it took this long for us to cross paths and, and, and get together on this. [00:03:00] But, ~uh, um,~ you know, I’m, I’m glad we’re here, and I’m glad we’re, we’re able to, ~uh,~ sit down and have a conversation here. [00:03:03] ~But, um,...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Coming home can leave you with a job, a family, and a life that looks fine from the outside, while the structure, identity, and sense of purpose that you had in the military feel like they disappeared overnight. That isolation can get dangerous when meaningful connection is missing and people only check in after something has already gone wrong. [00:00:21] Our guest today, Army veteran Sean Dillard, knows that struggle personally. After years of feeling disconnected, an injury and a period of heavy drinking pushed him into one of the darkest moments of his life. What helped pull him forward was connection, family, service, and eventually a rowing mission built around giving veterans a reason to show up for one another. [00:00:42] In this episode, you’ll hear why Sean puts so much value on everyday connection, how his son became part of the mission, and why he encourages veterans looking for purpose to connect with communities that already exist. Before we get into this episode, though, I’d like to take a moment to raise awareness for the Global War on Terrorism [00:01:00] Memorial Foundation. [00:01:01] This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. [00:01:17] If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOTmemorialfoundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:25] [00:01:38] Scott DeLuzio: Hey Sean, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:01:42] Sean Dillard: ~Uh, ~super excited to be here. [00:01:43] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. ~Uh, ~hey, ~um, ~for the listeners who may not know about you yet, ~uh, ~would you mind taking a minute just to introduce yourself, talk, talk through your, you know, army service and, you know, kind of what, what led you to where you are today? [00:01:56] Sean Dillard: ~Uh, ~so my name is Sean Dillard. ~Uh, ~I’m an army veteran. I served from [00:02:00] 2006 to 2011. ~Uh, ~including a deployment to Iraq. ~Um, ~I was, ~uh, ~stationed in Germany for about two years, ~uh, ~or almost two years. And then, ~uh, ~went to Iraq and then went back to Germany and then came out and did a little stint of the National Guard for a year from 2010 to 2011. ~Um, ~so yeah. [00:02:21] Scott DeLuzio: Cool. Cool. And, ~um, ~so we’re gonna kind of jump into, ~uh, ~talk about your, your, ~uh, ~work today that you’re, you’re doing now and, and all that, but. Just kind of as a, you know, I guess general background information, ~um, ~when you’re looking at the veteran mental health and suicide prevention programs and all those kind of things that are out there today, what do you think people outside the veteran community often misunderstand about Things like, ~uh, ~you know, isolation purpose, the, the things that continue to affect veterans after service. [00:02:51] Sean Dillard: So, you know, I, I think the biggest misunderstanding is that people assume that war ends when they just come home. ~Um, ~[00:03:00] the, the truth is many veterans lose more than a job when they leave the military. ~Uh, ~they lose their structure, ~uh, ~their identity, purpose, you know,...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Leaving the military can be a tough transition. You might be carrying physical pain, survivor’s guilt, and wondering where your skills fit now that you’re out. The question becomes: What’s next for me? Where do you belong, and how do you keep moving forward? Our guest today, Dwight Boddorf’s story, is one of finding that answer the hard way. [00:00:19] He went from being homeless at 16 to joining the Marine Corps, surviving a roadside bomb in Iraq, and living with years of lasting physical pain. After his service, he spent nearly a decade helping other veterans navigate benefits before stepping into local government. Along the way, he discovered that the same skills used in combat can make a real difference in small-town leadership. [00:00:40] That experience eventually led him to write The Municipal Battlefield, a guide shaped by the real challenges leaders face during late-night emergencies. This episode is about surviving injury, finding purpose again, and realizing that even when things feel uncertain after the military, you still have a place and a mission. [00:00:59] Before we begin, I [00:01:00] want to take a moment to raise awareness for something deeply important to our community, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the service members, families, and civilians impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:01:19] This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you want to learn more or find out how you can support the mission, visit GWOTmemorialfoundation.org. [00:01:34] [00:01:47] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Dwight. Welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here [00:01:50] Dwight Boddorf: Thank you for having me. I’m, I’m looking forward to talking with you [00:01:53] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. ~Um, ~yeah, like we were talking a little bit before we started recording here and, ~um, ~you know, we have a lot to talk about, I’m sure, and we’ll, we’ll get [00:02:00] into, ~uh, ~the conversation in just a minute here. But before we do, could you, for the guests who… Or sorry, for the listeners who don’t know you and, and your background, ~uh, ~could you just give us a quick, quick, ~uh, ~rundown on, on who you are and, and who we’re talking to here? [00:02:13] Dwight Boddorf: Yeah, I’d be happy to. ~Uh, ~my name is Dwight Boddorf So I live in the greater Pittsburgh area in Pennsylvania. I’m a Marine Corps veteran, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was wounded pretty severely with a roadside bomb, so life didn’t quite pan out the way that I had planned. ~uh, ~pivoted from there, worked with veterans for a number of years, ~um, ~in government and non-government roles until it led me to my kinda current calling, which is municipal government. you know, I’ve lived in the Pennsylvania area most of my life except for when I was in the military, ~um, ~serving with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance out of North Carolina. I am a Stanford Hoover veteran fellow, where I’m focusing on figuring out pathways for service members who are [00:03:00] transitioning out of the service to get into local government roles, and a recently published author of “The Municipal Battlefield.” [00:03:05] Scott DeLuzio: So you got a, a lot of plates that you’re spinning, and it...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: The switch, you learn to flip while in uniform where you can compartmentalize and focus on the task at hand can be hard to shut off when you get out. It helps you push through pain, stay locked in and get the job done. But life after the service has different needs when things slow down, but your mind keeps running. What many are really looking for is a way to feel steady again, to be present with your family and to understand what is happening inside before it spills into your work, your health, or the people you love. In this episode, our guest today, Chris Irwin, brings the perspective of a retired Navy seal, the Navy Seal Foundation, and his rare sense work on mental fitness. You’ll hear why mental toughness is only one tool, why awareness has to come first, and how veterans can begin training the mind without pretending everything is fine. Before we get into this episode though, I want to take a moment to raise awareness for something that’s important to our community. The Global War On Terrorism Memorial [00:01:00] Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians impacted by the global war on terrorism. Will be both a tribute to those who served in a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like, learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT Memorial Foundation dot org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:38] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Chris, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:01:40] Chris Irwin: Thanks, man. Happy to be here. [00:01:42] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. Hey, before we jump into the conversation for the listeners who maybe aren’t familiar with you, could you introduce yourself briefly and just share a bit about, you know, your background, who you are that, [00:01:52] Chris Irwin: Sure. [00:01:53] Scott DeLuzio: yeah. [00:01:53] Chris Irwin: Irwin I’m assuming that’s in the, the title of the episode somewhere, so the listing. So, I. [00:02:00] Retired seal, retired Navy seal. I was in the SEAL teams for 20 years total. I spent 14 years on active duty, six in the reserves. So that was kind of my main career for an extended period of time. Naval Academy graduate. I spent some time over in England going to graduate school before going to Bud s and then after that did a number of things. Started out kind of selling investment research and that wasn’t. Great. I learned a lot about transitioning out of the military through that experience, but my wife and I opened up the first CrossFit gym in the Virgin Islands back in 2011. I think that was the same year that I got out of the military. Ran that for a few years. Loved it. Great experience. CrossFit St. Thomas in the island of St. Thomas. I then got a job as the president of a small beverage company, startup beverage company called Kill Cliff in the CrossFit space, and spent five years there as the president, learning a lot about small business, how to run [00:03:00] a business, how not to run a business. Really got my feet wet and with a lot of the job training, having not come from any kind of business background. I didn’t have an MBA or anything like that. And for the last eight years? Ye...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Post-traumatic stress can leave your body reacting as though danger never ended. Sleep disappears, anxiety stays high, relationships feel the strain, and painful memories can influence everyday interactions. The goal is not to erase what happened or lose an important part of your story. It should be instead to keep the memory without letting it control your nervous system, your family, or your future. [00:00:26] Our guest today, Dr. Eugene Lipov, joins me to explain why he believes PTSD should be called post-traumatic stress injury, and how a procedure known as a stellate ganglion block may calm the fight or flight response. He shares a personal loss that led him to his work, explains what patients experience during the procedure, and describes why treatment should continue with therapy and other support afterwards. [00:00:55] We also cover secondary trauma within families, the origin of the term, the [00:01:00] God shot, the emotional weight attached to traumatic memories, and the steps a veteran should take when choosing a stellate ganglion block provider. This conversation provides a look at the procedure, including its limits, its risks, costs, and the hope Dr. [00:01:16] Lipov believes it can offer. Before we get into this episode, though, I want to take a moment to raise awareness for something deeply important to our community, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:01:36] This memorial will be both a tribute to those who have served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOTmemorialfoundation.org. Now let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:52] [00:02:06] Scott DeLuzio: Dr. Lipov very happy to have you here. Welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:02:12] Dr. Eugene Lipov: Thank you very much for having me. [00:02:14] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And and likewise honor for me to, to talk with someone like yourself and we’ll, we’ll get more into, you know, what you do and all that stuff in, in just a minute here. [00:02:24] But for the listeners who maybe are new to your work and not familiar with you, could you maybe just give a brief intro about yourself and you know, share how your path led from, you know, kind of where you started to where you are today. [00:02:35] Dr. Eugene Lipov: Sure. So I, I was born in Ukraine and my father was flyer in World War ii, and I’ll become a parent by this is relevant, and out of a hundred, out of 10,000 people in his squadron a hundred made it home. So he had a significant. Problem or PTSD, and he was interesting gentleman to grow up with. So he [00:03:00] gave PTSD to my mother that’s technically called secondary PTSD, and she took her life. [00:03:05] So I, he was a physician. My mother was a physician to, my brothers a physician. So I went to medical school and I was gonna be a surgeon and I went from surgery. To anesthesia after my mother’s death. So then, you know, before in surgery I did trauma surgery and stuff like that. So then I got to anesthesia. [00:03:25] From anesthesia. I...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Leaving the military often means adjusting to a very different pace of life and a shift in identity. That transition can feel more complicated when a long war ends in a way that raises difficult questions about leadership, accountability, and the systems that support those in uniform. Many veterans carry frustration, uncertainty, or a sense of that important issues were never fully addressed. [00:00:22] Those feelings can be part of a broader process of reflection, engagement, and continued service in new forms. Our guest today, retired Army Officer Paul Darling, shares his perspective shaped by 27 years in uniform, a deployment to Afghanistan, time at the Pentagon, and his work with War 1 0 2 and the Tennessee State Guard. [00:00:45] This conversation explores how military procurement. And leadership decisions may affect troops on the ground. How different people interpret accountability after conflict, and how veterans can look for direction and [00:01:00] community after leaving active duty. Before we get into this episode, though, I wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something that is deeply important to our community. [00:01:07] The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. [00:01:26] If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their efforts, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:34] [00:01:47] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Paul, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:01:59] Paul Darling: [00:02:00] Thank you. Glad to be here [00:02:01] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. ~Um,~ virtually, yeah, ab absolutely. ~Um,~ you know, ~uh,~ before we get into the conversations for, for listeners who are just meeting you now on, you know, obviously virtually through, ~uh,~ through this episode here, ~uh,~ can you tell us a little bit about yourself? [00:02:14] Maybe walk through your, your military background and, and type of stuff like that. [00:02:18] Paul Darling: Yeah, sure. ~Uh,~ Paul Darling, a retired army officer. ~Uh,~ went to West Point, a, a mix of active duty and what’s known as Active Guard Reserve, which is full-time guard time, did some traditional m day time. I, after company command, I resigned my active duty commission, ~uh,~ because it was August, 2001, and I knew there’d never be another war. [00:02:40] So there’s no reason to stay in. ~Uh,~ then I went to work for a little, little company in Houston called Enron. ~Uh,~ and then I found myself back serving in uniform. And, ~uh,~ it’s, it was a good ride. got a job, you know, after Enron and, and worked in engineering. Realized that I liked being a soldier. I didn’t particularly like being an, an engineer. [00:02:59] Scott DeLuzio: [00:03:00] Sure. [00:03:00] Paul Darling: So, ~uh,~ almost all my troop time was spent overseas. The only time I was conus. Was, ~uh,~ for schools or my last two years when I got stuck in the Pentagon, which was, which was horrible. ~Uh,~ yeah, that’s why I got o...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: After 25 years in the Air Force, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan stint at the Pentagon, uh, retirement did not feel like freedom for our guests today, Benjamin Forrest, it felt like the point where everything he had pushed down, finally caught up with him going to therapy, was not working. [00:00:18] Antidepressants were not working by Veteran’s Day of 2020, he was in a psych ward for suicidal ideation and treatment resistant depression. What followed was not a quick fix or a reckless leap. It became what he called Operation Healing Benjamin, a full commitment to finding a way back to himself when the standard answers were just not enough. [00:00:40] That search eventually led him into, uh, psychedelic medicine, but this conversation is about much more than magic mushrooms. It’s about the cost of shutting off fear for years. What happens when a veteran cannot turn his heart back on, and why? Real healing requires safety, honesty, [00:01:00] preparation, and support. [00:01:02] Benjamin shares what changed after his first ceremony, how he thinks about medicine versus drugs, which just numb you out and why veterans need to understand the legal, medical, and psychological risks before exploring this path. In this episode, you’ll also hear what any veteran can take from his story, even without psychedelics, make healing the mission long enough to become more present, more connected, and more alive. [00:01:31] Before we get into this episode though, I want to take a moment to raise awareness for something that’s important to our community. The Global War On Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:01:47] This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial [00:02:00] foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:02:04] [00:02:17] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Benjamin, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:02:19] Benjamin Forest: Oh, thank you. So happy to be here. [00:02:21] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. [00:02:22] Hey, before we dive into the conversation today for the listeners who maybe aren’t familiar with you and, and who you are, could you just give us a, you know, quick background on, on who you are? [00:02:31] Benjamin Forest: Sure. Probably the easiest tagline is from the Pentagon to plant medicine. I spent 25 years in the US Air Force. Time in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon, when I got out, when I retired, after a quarter of century, I felt completely broken. Therapy wasn’t working for me. [00:02:52] Antidepressants weren’t working for me. And ultimately at my lowest point veterans Day of 2020, I wound up in a psych ward [00:03:00] for suicidal ideation and treatment resistant depression. So that wound up being a pivotal moment for me. The VA wasn’t able to help me it seemed, and so I left that experience of being hospitalized, realizing, oh, I’m gonna have to do this for myself. [00:03:16] So on the way home from the hospital, I called my...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Getting out of the military can leave somebody carrying pressure in places that no one else can see. Your job might be steady, your, your family might be counting on you, and life might be looking just fine from the outside. But inside, there can still be a fight to find purpose, stay calm, communicate well, and stop feeling like the best version of yourself got left behind with your uniform. [00:00:24] Our guest today, Dave Birke, knows that world from more than one angle. He spent 23 years in the Marine Corps, flew fighters, taught at Top Gun, and now teaches leadership with Echelon Front. This conversation pulls leadership out of the boardroom and puts it where it matters every day, in your home, your work, your transition out of the military, your failures, and even the moments when pressure starts to take over. [00:00:53] From this episode, you’ll walk away with a clear way to slow down, take ownership without crushing yourself, build [00:01:00] stronger relationships, and start moving toward a life after service that still feels meaningful. And before we get into this conversation, make sure you’re connected with Drive On beyond the podcast. [00:01:10] Go to driveonpodcast.com/subscribe and join our email list. It’s the best way to stay connected, get updates from the show, and hear about resources, stories, and conversations built for veterans and their families. Before we begin, though, I do wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something that’s important to our community, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. [00:01:31] This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington, DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. [00:01:48] If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOTmemorialfoundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:54] Introduction — [00:02:08] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Dave, welcome to the show. I’m really glad to have you here [00:02:11] Dave Berke: Yeah, good to be here, man. [00:02:11] Appreciate your patience. Glad to finally get connected [00:02:14] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. [00:02:15] Yeah, like we’ve been saying a little bit before we, we started recording here, I’ve been looking forward to this conversation for quite some time. And and, you know, we, we’ve kind of gone back and forth and, and here we are. So I’m, I’m glad to glad to kind of jump into it. But before we, we kind of dive into the conversation I’m sure some of my, my listeners are already familiar with you, but for some of them who maybe aren’t could you maybe introduce yourself and, and just tell us a little bit about your, your background and, and a little bit about who you are? [00:02:41] Dave Berke: Yeah, for sure, man. I’m Dave Burke. I’m a leadership instructor at Echelon Front, which is a leadership consultancy. My background is I did 23 years in the Marine Corps, mostly flying airplanes. Flew a couple different fighters. Spent a little time on the ground. And then after I left the Marine Corps, I joined Echelon Front, and I teach leadership...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Sometimes the hardest part after service can be realizing that discipline alone does not fix isolation, stress, or the feeling that your next mission is still out of reach. There is a way forward that includes better people around you, sharper thinking, and the courage to ask for help without feeling weak for needing it. [00:00:19] Our guest today, Jason McNamara, brings a blunt, veteran minded look at building freedom after the uniform. From money in business to mental reset tools and finding a circle that actually understands where you have been. In this episode, you’ll hear how to start small, show up differently and stop carrying everything by yourself. [00:00:40] Before we get into this episode, though, I want to take a moment to raise awareness for something I feel is important to our community. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:00:58] This memorial will be both a tribute to [00:01:00] those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:13] [00:01:27] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Jason, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:01:30] Jason McNamara: My pleasure, brother. [00:01:31] Happy to be here, man. It is a beautiful day. [00:01:34] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. Could you maybe just start by introducing yourself to sharing a little bit about your background? You know, just real brief just to let folks know who you are a little bit and and a little bit about your background. [00:01:44] Jason McNamara: Quick story. I was born in the Caribbean, grew up poor in South Florida. I realized, you know, that taught me the life I didn’t want to build. So I took chances. I joined the Navy. I volunteered to go to Guantanamo Bay, and then I volunteered to assist the CIA with [00:02:00] interrogations. I earned a couple of Navy and Marine Corps achievement medals. When I got home, I took a job with the state of Florida’s department of Economic Opportunity, helping disabled veterans overcome barriers to employ. That job was hugely intrinsically rewarding, but I’ll be honest, the pay sucked. So I got into sales learned how to be a trusted advisor, broke records there, bought a bunch of houses, retired, started the No more Nine to five club, no more. [00:02:22] Nine five Foundation. [00:02:24] That’s I’M today, that the fast version. [00:02:26] Scott DeLuzio: Oh, that was pretty quick. [00:02:27] But it, you covered a lot of ground there in, in you know, what was it like? Probably 30 seconds that you had there that you, I think you got your elevator pitch down, down pat there. But you know, you, you talked about your time in the Navy, you talked about, you know, growing, you, you were born in the Caribbean and then you know, volunteering to go to Guantanamo Bay and, and all that kind of stuff. [00:02:44] Was it you know, what, what was, what was your inspiration to join the Navy and and, and do all...

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Taking off the uniform can be harder than most people expect. One day, your rank, your role in the military, your, your mission, and the people around you all seem to make sense. Then you step into civilian life and suddenly you have to figure out who you are without all that being visible to the world. [00:00:17] But that doesn’t mean your purpose is gone. It means that you have to rebuild it around the things that matter most to you Now. Thi it might be things like your faith, your family, your service to other veterans or your community, and connection with people who understand where you’ve been. Our guest today, John Smith brings a perspective of a retired MAs, Marine Master Sergeant, a veteran podcaster, a husband, a father, and a man still working through what transition means after 20 years in uniform. [00:00:49] This episode. And talk about giving a grounded look at identity after service, why veteran stories matter. How pride can block [00:01:00] you from getting help, and how purpose can show up in unexpected ways. Before we get into this episode, though, I wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something that’s important to our community. [00:01:11] The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will be both a tribute to those who have served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. [00:01:31] If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:38] [00:01:51] Scott DeLuzio: Hey John, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here. [00:01:55] John Smith: It’s great to be here, Scott. Thank you for having on. [00:01:58] Scott DeLuzio: Absolutely. Yeah, I was on [00:02:00] your show you know, the unsung veteran a few weeks ago now, and you know, it was a great conversation and, you know, figured we can maybe pick up the conversation from, you know, I don’t know where we left off, or we can just continue talking about some other stuff here. [00:02:11] But for the listeners who maybe aren’t familiar with you and and, and who you are, maybe they haven’t you know, heard your show could you just give us a. Quick intro to who you are and share a little bit about yourself and your background. [00:02:23] John Smith: Absolutely fir yeah. No, I, I thank you for asking. I, [00:02:26] Scott DeLuzio: Sure. [00:02:27] John Smith: I don’t really have a well rehearsed intro for myself other than, you know, why I’m on the show, why I have a podcast is I’m a veteran myself. So retired Marine did 20 years, and the Marine Corps retired as a Mass Sergeant. So if you wanna know what I did, and I was kind of in the A BH community. so tactical error defense controller, it’s been a while since I said that. Like TADC, so Air Defense Controller MS was 72, 36, did that for 20 years. What I, what I am now is just a, you know, first I’m. A Christian [00:03:00] follower of Jesus Christ. Second, I’m a husband and I’m a father. [00:03:04] And lastly, you know, I, I work and I, I run a, a podcast,

Read the full transcript [00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Getting clean, staying sharp and protecting your family can feel like a fight that never lets up. One bad influence. One moment of grief, one old contact or one wrong decision can pull a person back into a place that they fought hard to to get out of. But there’s another way forward, a way to rebuild your health, strengthen your mind, cut off the people dragging you down, and become the reliable father, husband, friend, and protector that your family needs. [00:00:30] Our guest today, Adan Castaneda, brings the perspective of a Marine Corps veteran recovery coach and intervention professional who has lived through addiction, mental illness, PTSD, and the hard work of rebuilding. You’re gonna hear in this episode, practical Steps for Sobriety, fentanyl, awareness Building a Better Fire Team, replacing Destructive Habits and finding Purpose again without pretending the road is [00:01:00] easy. [00:01:00] Before we get into this episode, though, I wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something that I feel is deeply important to our community, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. [00:01:17] This memorial will be both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode. [00:01:34] [00:01:47] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Adan, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here [00:01:51] Adan Castaneda: I appreciate it, sir. It’s an honor to be here, and it’s an [00:01:53] honor to speak my voice and for other veterans and families out there and just try to educate [00:01:58] others on, you know, the fentanyl [00:02:00] epidemic. So. [00:02:00] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. [00:02:01] You hear a lot about it [00:02:02] in the, in the, news and, you know, different people talking about, [00:02:05] you know, fentanyl and, and all that stuff. And you know, when I, I saw your information come through and I was like, “You know what? This is, this is kind of a big deal,” because you know, I know there are some, some purposes that, that it’s used for. [00:02:18] It’s obviously, you know, a, a drug that’s been developed, but, you know, it’s gone down the wrong path in, in a lot of, a lot of places, and it’s been used for the wrong things and you know, starts, starts to you know, wreck havoc in people’s lives you know, across the country. And so, you know, this is bigger than just a veteran issue, but it’s, it’s a veteran issue as well. [00:02:37] You know, it affects a lot of folks you know, all over the place. So, before we, we jump into, you know, kind of the meat of the episode here could you start by maybe just sharing a little bit about yourself and your, and your background, kinda a little bit of who you are for anyone who’s not familiar with you? [00:02:51] Adan Castaneda: My name is Adon Miguel Castaneda. I’m a United States Marine Corps veteran. I served in the Iraqi Wa...