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

Thandi Myeni started out working at M&M Mars candy company, but after 9/11, she decided she wanted to pursue a life of meaning and purpose. She decided to go to medical school and graduated despite the challenges. She originally planned on becoming an OBGYN, but life took her in a different direction. This story of transformation serves to demonstrate that our past does not determine our futur...

Examining the potential benefits of exercise for managing mental health and providing advice for incorporating physical activity into daily life. Introduction Statistics on the prevalence of mental health issues among veterans and the potential benefits of exercise for managing these issues Benefits of exercise for managing mental health How exercise can help alleviate symptoms of these conditions...

Jerry Dugan is a leadership consultant, training facilitator, and public speaker who hosts the podcast Beyond the Rut with Jerry Dugan. He helps build servant leaders by finding clarity and alignment in their work and personal lives. His leadership experience includes roles with the U.S. Army, Christian ministry, and corporate healthcare, where his whole-person approach has built thriving teams wh...

Exploring the concept of moral injury, its impact on veterans, and potential treatment options. Introduction Introduce the concept of moral injury and its impact on veterans The importance of exploring moral injury What is Moral Injury? Define moral injury and differentiate it from PTSD How moral injury can occur in military service Impact of Moral Injury on Veterans The emotional, psychological,...

Michelle Axmaker is a former zookeeper and currently works with Warriors Heart to train service dogs for veterans and first responders. She gained experience training and caring for exotic animals at Bush Gardens in Tampa, Florida, and then at the Lackland Air Force Base at their military working dog center. Michelle discusses the importance of service dogs for people with PTSD and the unique trai...

Providing advice and strategies for managing feelings of guilt and shame related to military service or civilian life. Introduction Why do veterans experience guilt and shame? How can guilt and shame affect a veteran's mental health? Common Sources of Guilt and Shame in Veterans Combat-related experiences Moral injury Survivor's guilt Trauma outside of combat Addressing Shame's Link to Suicidal Id...

Dave Morrow, a Canadian veteran shares his own experience as a reservist and how he struggled to get back to normal after hurting his back and knee. He found that taking pain pills was only a temporary solution and that he had to make a lifestyle change to get harder to kill. This led to his mission of helping other veterans lose weight and get more fit. Links & Resources DaveMorrow.net Dave M...

Examining the potential benefits of entrepreneurship as a means of finding purpose and meaning after military service. Introduction Benefits of Entrepreneurship Discuss the potential benefits of entrepreneurship, such as: Challenges of Entrepreneurship Challenges of entrepreneurship, such as: Financial risks and uncertainties. Long hours and hard work are required to build a successful business. N...

Darrell Utt is the Chief of Business Operations at the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and a retired Green Beret. He was a small-town kid from West Virginia who joined the Army in 1990 and went on to become a Special Forces Green Beret. Darrell talks about his experience of being a newly minted Special Forces Green Beret and being thrown into a situation he was completely unprepared for....

This episode discusses the cultural barriers that prevent military members from seeking help for mental health issues and provides advice for breaking down these barriers. Introduction Explanation of the stigma surrounding mental health in the military Discussion on the cultural barriers that prevent military members from seeking help Explanation of the cultural factors that contribute to stigma s...

Peter Cline is an Army infantry veteran and the founder of Boots to Books, a nonprofit that helps veterans and their families attain competitive education and employment. Peter's own transition out of the military was a bit rocky. He contacted a friend who helped him rephrase his military experience into terms civilian employers would understand. This led to the creation of Boots To Books. Learn h...

In this episode, we look at alternative therapies for PTSD, such as art therapy, equine therapy, and adventure therapy. Outline: Introduction Explanation of what PTSD is Overview of traditional treatments for PTSD Introduction to alternative therapies for PTSD treatment Art therapy for PTSD treatment Definition of art therapy How art therapy can be used as a treatment for PTSD Equine therapy for P...

Jason Pike served 31 years in the US Army, starting as a private and working his way up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Jason shared his story of starting from the bottom and working hard to reach his goals. He faced a federal investigation for espionage against the US government. He was accused of selling secrets to foreign nationals but was ultimately found innocent. He talks about how he man...

This is the first of hopefully many episodes where I take time to dive deep into a particular topic. This time it's the role of the family to support veterans. Outline: Introduction Brief explanation of the importance of family support for veterans Overview of the topics that will be covered in the episode The impact of military service on veterans and their families Discussion on the unique chall...

Paul White is a retired 21-year Air Force veteran with over 1500 hours as a tactical flight instructor. He has developed strategies to motivate people to become better versions of themselves and is here to discuss these strategies and how his 1 of 5 Project can propel people to reach their goals. His experience as an instructor of people how to fly airplanes has helped him develop tactics and stra...

After the military, John Henry Parker sought ways to help him become a better person. He looked to personal development and programs to help him become the person he wanted to be. He found that going through certain life experiences changed him for the better, and he was able to transcend most of the traumatic experiences he had. He still gets triggered, experiences depression, and has the urge to...

April Shprintz joins the podcast to share her journey in the Air Force and how, despite setbacks, she never quit pursuing her dreams. April Shprintz owns Driven Outcomes and is a mentor with the nonprofit Warrior Rising, which helps veterans in business. After leaving the Air Force, April looked to change her career focus, as many veterans often do. Despite several obstacles she had to overcome, A...

Dr. Annie White discussed her book, The Calm Code, which provides readers with a step-by-step method to help them become calmer and happier. She notes that the more negative thoughts you have, the easier it will be to think negative thoughts, and vice versa - the more positive thoughts you have, the easier it will be to think positively. Her research while writing the book revealed scientifically...

David Gutierrez and Stu Grazier met while attending the Naval Academy and have stayed close ever since. Stu and David were stationed apart for most of their careers in the Navy except when they were both stationed in Naples, Italy. Around this time, they started to discuss their plans for the future and decided to go into business together, focusing on real estate investments. They emphasize the i...

Brian Noonan joins us to discuss the Sinclair Method, which is a method of treating alcoholism involving Naltrexone, a prescription medication, and alcohol. The method was developed by Dr. Sinclair, who conducted studies with rodents by creating alcoholic mice and giving them Naltrexone. His findings showed that the only way to extinguish the interest in drinking was to combine the tablet with alc...

John Jones is a retired federal law enforcement officer and Navy Hospital Corman. He wrote a book, A Higher Calling , which offers first responders, veterans, and military personnel a biblical guide to their demanding work. John has both military and law enforcement experience, which has given him a unique point of view and perspective that he has used to write his book. He wrote the book to provi...

Clinton Dye is a four-tour Marine Corps combat veteran who struggled with PTSD from not only his deployments but also his early childhood. He was present when his mother shot his father in a drunken rage, which is one of many traumas he had to deal with growing up. He struggled to avoid the lure of drugs, alcohol, and crime, which were all common in his environment. He believes that his early chil...

Betsy Holmberg is a psychologist who has focused on various topics, including self-injury and suicide. She is currently focused on the tribal brain, an interesting topic. Betsy has a Ph. D. from Duke and has conducted and published research at Harvard. She also ran the mental health service line for McKinsey and Company. After her husband left her, she had suicidal thoughts and struggled for years...

Daniel Mayberry is a Navy veteran who has struggled with PTSD and started a podcast whose mission is to help other veterans in need. Daniel Mayberry joined the Navy at 17, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. His first ship was small, and there was not much to do. He was getting into trouble, and two senior chiefs asked him what he wanted from his service. He wanted to serve the country, and they point...

Stacey Marmolejo is the founder and CEO of Franchise Prep Academy, which helps soon-to-retire military personnel navigate the franchise industry so that they can evaluate if a franchise career is right for them in their next step after the military. Stacey comes from a family of 10 military generations serving 176 years collectively. Although her parents were Disheartened when she did not join the...