Through Feather and Fire Podcast

In this fun and heartfelt episode, I sit down with Stacey Tompkins, a spiritual guide and integration coach, to discuss the journey of healing, love, and transformation. We delve into personal histories, the power of psychedelics in veteran communities, and the importance of breaking free from childhood traumas. Stacey shares her profound wisdom on the interconnectedness of all beings and the role...

In this short musing, we explore the gripping story of James Stockdale, a U.S. Navy pilot who survived seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Detailing his mental and physical endurance, we highlight the Stockdale Paradox—the balance between confronting brutal reality and maintaining hope. Drawing parallels to modern-day struggles, it emphasizes resilience through stoicism, hard truths, and...

In this episode of the Through Feather and Fire podcast, I sit down with my old commanding officer, Tom Dolan, a remarkable leader whose impact on my life and career is immeasurable. Tom shares his incredible journey from his early days in the Marine Corps to his extraordinary leadership during our combat deployment in Afghanistan. We delve into some of the pivotal moments, both challenging and in...

In this episode of the Through Feather and Fire Podcast, we delve deep into a conversation with Chase Rowan, a former Army Ranger and veteran advocate who has bravely navigated the challenging journey from addiction to recovery. Chase shares his poignant story about growing up with a troubled family background, serving in the military, enduring the depths of substance abuse, and ultimately finding...

What happens when a wilderness guide, poet, and soul musician sits down for a heartfelt conversation about presence, purpose, and the improbable miracle of being alive? In this wide-ranging episode, I speak with Mákete —one of my favorite humans, a gifted songwriter, and Glacier National Park guide—about everything from grizzly bears and heartbreak to the sacred technology of biology and why some...

Several summers ago, I almost died. A sudden fever. Hallucinations. A rush to the hospital. Spinal meningitis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever—at the same time. I was nine years old. That was the first time I remember brushing up against death, but not the last. There have been others—on highways, in combat zones, in quiet moments of collapse. And yet, somehow, I’m still here. So are you. This vid...

In this opening episode, I share a story that changed how I think about leadership forever—a moment in Afghanistan where a Marine Corps commanding officer chose people over protocol and showed us what courage looks like under pressure. Through Feather and Fire is a space where strategy meets soul. In these conversations, we’ll explore what it means to lead from the inside out—to hold tension, to g...