Be Crazy Well

Finding agency and his purpose is how he rolls. Dustin Belusack, U.S. Army National Guard Veteran and Merging Vets and Players Virtual Program Manager, is Suzi's guest today.  "I'm a proud native of the burbs of Cleveland, Ohio, and a veteran of the Army National Guard. After being activated, I lost myself and my drive, and eventually, I lost everything, I took the time to reflect on my life and m...

Trauma needs no invitation to appear in a person's life.  Suzi is talking about trauma and why it can feel so normal. In today's episode Suzi dives deeper into Dr. Gabor Mate's book The Myth of Normal and the Big T Trauma and the Little t Trauma. The Little t Trauma is the more hurtful and prevalent as it takes tiny bites out of a person's mental health and wellbeing. As part of investigating your...

Speaking your truth is a practice!  In today's episode Suzi is joined by Matt Shepherd, US Navy Veteran for part 2 of his story. Matt is very honest and candid about his struggles to learn how to cope without alcohol or substances. He learned that sobriety brought a renewed joy for life and allowed him to explore not only the good but also tackle the bad in order to be crazy well.  Matt learned to...

Perseverance - The persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. A word that could describe Suzi's guest today as he has continued to persevere through the obstacles. In today's episode Retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Doc Jacobs joins Suzi as he talks about his desire to join the Navy, deployment and the moment life's journey gave him a new mission....

Suzi is joined today by Isaac Salvidar, US Marine Veteran and Program Manager at Merging Vets and Players Las Vegas Chapter. Isaac shares his journey of healing and his determination not to be his diagnosis. As a first generation American in his family Isaac began to pave his way to success through many diverse routes of achievement. As one of those routes Isaac joined the Marine Corps to solidify...

It is hard sometimes for us to give ourselves grace and recognize that we are all human. We all make mistakes and hit roadblocks that challenge our decision making. It is how we recover! It is how we explore empowering ourselves with knowledge to success and finding the love for ourselves to recognize we are allowed to make mistakes so we can learn and grow. Suzi talks with Matt Shepherd in this e...

Real Relatable and Raw Suzi talks with John David "J.D." Morris, Retired US Army Special Forces, Professional Shooting and Tactics Instructor, and Wellness Mentor about the real struggles, relatable stories and raw details of his life. Trauma is an individual and unique reality for each of us and when we know we are not alone, we can then stand strong knowing we have many hands holding us up and h...

In today's episode we are revisiting Season 1 Episode 20 Everyone Has A Different Story.  If you think you know it all, then how will you grow? The ancient Masters didn’t try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don’t know, people can find their own way. ~ Tao Te Ching translat...

What is your internal dialogue of the word LOVE? One of the first words we learn is Love and understanding the physical sensations of pleasant and unpleasant. We teach our children about the words that represent emotions.  In this episode, Suzi explores deeper how we are taught through our exposure to family and those around us how we define emotions and actions with words. We are taught the expec...

Suzi and Nate continued the conversation and dive into the importance of Veterans being able to have choices of where and who care for their needs through the VA especially if they are not local to a VA Medical Center. CV4A lays the grassroots of policies to move through legislation to give Veterans more control over their healthcare. Nate touches on some of those bills and policies, the Mission A...

Nate Banks, Strategic Director for Concerned Veterans for America in Colorado and US Navy Veteran, about his journey after service to receive healthcare and his experience with the VA Healthcare System. As an advocate for veterans, Nate pursues his passion for accountability and responsibility through the mission at the Concerned Veterans of America to advocate for policies that will preserve the...

Suzi talks with Josh Wheeldon about his journey to service, time during the military, his duty as a military police officer and his continued commitment to serve his fellow brothers and sisters.  Josh's Bio Joined the Army as a Military Police Officer in December 2004 shortly after I traveled to Korea 2005. In 2006 came to Fort Lewis where I deployed to the Anbar Province of Iraq for 15 months liv...

Broken Promises ~ Compromised Mental Health Care, Counselor Burnout & Retaliation at VA Our Veterans are not numbers! Suzi is joined by Ted Blickwedel, Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, about compromised mental health care and counsel burnout in VA Vet Centers. Ted's journey from clinical social worker employed by the VA to today has b...

Completing the mission is the target. Using your techniques, skills, and resources learned in the military to complete the mission should be no different when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. Complete your mission in finding the best ways to live the life you so deserve by completing the mission for your mental health well being.  Suzi has the honor of taking with Retired 1SG U.S. Army Tom...

Andi has arrived! Having traveled through life's challenges from being raised in a cult, sexual molestation, coping with alcohol and drugs, military sexual trauma and coming out on the other side with strength and perseverance, Andi is a story of resilience and survival.  Join Suzi in this episode to hear more about Andi's story and how even though life gives you a crappy stack of cards you can st...

As we are celebrating our annual holiday traditions many incorporate various practices and behaviors that we often find the norm. But are they truly celebratory by everyone? Do they truly have a joyful resonating effect for everyone attending? Suzi talks about behaviors and practices that often come with overly celebrating during the holidays. Alcohol can sometimes be part of that celebration but...

Send us a Text Message. Suzi talks with Jason Jarman, US Army Veteran and Program Manager for MVP Seattle about childhood trauma, service and creating his own wellness practices for healing.  Jason's Bio I was raised in a very chaotic household. My Dad left when I was 7 y/o, leaving my Mom to raise 4 boys on her own. I am the youngest of those 4. Looking back, I realized that I attached to anyone...

The Wonder Women of the Military  Suzi talks with U.S. Army Sergeant Major Evelyn Azzaria about service and family. Evelyn was part of the Cultural Support Team (CST) and has been in service for 20+ years. Her skills, knowledge and resilience has propelled her into a journey of exploration, perseverance and creating a path of accomplishment. Evelyn talks about being part of the team, motherhood an...

What are your traditions? What are you grateful for in your life? Holidays can be tough and many experience the anxiety of expectations. In this episode, Suzi talks about creating your own traditions to help ease the anxiety and the expectations of giving, working and connecting with family. Suzi created her new tradition of connection with those around her and makes it her mission to honor those...

Suzi talks with Lt.. Col. Brian Slade, Apache Pilot and author of "Cleared Hot", about his seven principles and leadership skills that helped build his foundation to manage PTSD and trauma. Be resilient when facing your storms and work towards seeing obstacles as opportunities.  Check out Brian’s book “Cleared Hot with Lt. Col. Brian Slade.” Find it on on Amazon or at https://www.clearedhot.info/...

Discrimination builds barriers to opportunities for those with brilliant minds to flourish.  Today Suzi is joined by USSF Lt Col. Bree Fram, Astronautical Engineer, Author, D&I Speaker, to talk about the importance of sharing the stories of the LGBTQ military community and working towards social change. Additionally, Bree is the president of SPARTA which supports, educates and advocates on beh...

 Words Matter! Language teaching starts from childhood and develops the definition of what meaning is attached to a particular word.  In this episode, Suzi talks about how words can be developed into a totally different meaning depending on your environment and how you were nurtured by those around you. How we think and feel about ourselves comes from what was told or done to us from childhood. Fo...

Working it out! ~ Setting Boundaries and Figuring It Out Looking for your tribe and figuring out your path despite the cards you have been dealt. Suzi talks about meeting Rick and Lauren Monroe, founders of Raven Drum Foundation and Rick's journey in figuring out his path despite a horrific accident in order to be able to help veterans and others struggling with their own adversities. Suzi talks a...

When is it too much trauma? Do we move towards what we see as familiar? Sometimes we gravitate towards what we know and sometimes that might be chaos. In today's episode, Suzi has the honor of speaking with Amber Roads, USAF EOD Veteran about her journey of healing and the wellness practices she uses to heal the trauma in her life. Amber shares her family life growing up, her decision to join the...

It is never too late to unload your rucksack! Suzi has the honor of speaking with Scott Baker, Air Force Vietnam Veteran about his journey before, during and after his service and the importance of facing your storms head on. Returning home from Vietnam as a service member was often not received with open arms and took a terrible toll on our Vietnam Veterans in seeking the help they so deserved. S...