Women With an Effed Up Mind

PFC LaVena Johnson was only 19 years old when she was murdered in Iraq. One of the biggest cover ups in the military, yet her family still can’t find justice after 15 years. Why is that? How was the Army able to rule this a suicide STILL? How are people not more upset and talking about this just as much as we are Vanessa Guillen? Dive into this rabbit role with Lani and I and let’s bring justice f...

This week we were joined by Virgina Cruse who is the author of, “The Soldier’s Guide to PTSD: How to No-Sh*t Reclaim Your Life,” a Soldier-to-Soldier guide for overcoming PTSD and Moral Injury that gives step-by-step guidance on how Service Members can take their lives back. Virginia is a Soldier-turned-therapist. She is former active duty Army (1997-2006), current Commissioned Navy Reserve Office...

First off… kind of wonky at the end. My b but October brings Domestic Violence Awareness Month and that is exactly where we’re at with this ‘forgotten crisis,’ the awareness stage. It’s not enough. Where’s the policies? Then you want to add it into the NDAA and out of commands hands, then who takes care of it? Where’s the transitional plan? It’s time to go into full gear on this. We were joined by...

Need a little pep in your step? Some extra motivation? Or somebody to just remind you that it’s okay to take care of YOU? Welcome to this weeks random episodes of updates, motivation, and just rambling with yours truly

It’s that time for our Effed Up Friday Segment and monthly Roundtable with Lani from Kruse Corner Podcast, Six from Cancelled For Maintenance Podcast, with our special guest Rachelle from The Enduring Campaign. We’ve turned this into a therapy session with good friends, how to decide if someone’s true and genuine, being a woman in the military, being Beta vs Alphas and so much more. With this mont...

Caity is standing up and speaking about her rapist, who is now fighting for an appeal for his ONLY 3 year sentence after sexually assaulting 6 women. She’s calling on those to start standing up for ACCOUNTABILITY. That’s all we want, is accountability for those who do wrong. To give the victims/survivors some sort of relief, because there’s a bigger after math than most realize. Here’s the link fo...

If there’s an organization I love to talk about, it’s Irreverent Warriors. They’re doing the damn thing, and organizations like this are so important, ESPECIALLY given the times. It’s all about camaraderie, meeting new people, and enjoying each other’s company. Forgetting the negativity in the world, and yourself. Hiking and just surrounding each other with positivity. I’ve had the privilege to go...

We’re continuing to bring awareness that it is okay to get help. Mental health matters and it does not discriminate, no matter the branch, gender or what your experience is. It is not dedicate to one set thing. We brought on Ernie Mariscal, who is a 21 year combat Army vet, and motivational speaker who speaks on mental health. How it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s up to you “whether you’re a vict...

I can’t believe we made it this far already, but we couldn’t have done it without our listeners and followers! Y’all are so amazing and helping us grow and do the damn thing! We’re just getting started and even announced a new step we’re taking soon 😉 so here’s to you all for letting us be your voice, a part of your healing and sending the message out!

This week we talk to Jasmine, another female Marine, who stood up and said.. “I need to do this for ME,” after experiencing MST. She helps shine the light on ending the stigma on getting the proper help you need. You won’t wear the uniform forever, so you have to peal the layers to know YOU. If we stand up together to end the highlighted, terrible stigma of mental health, we can encourage more and...

FIRST EDITION ROUND TABLE! With my favorites, Lani from Kruse Corner Podcast and Six from Cancelled For Maintenance Podcast. Exposing the truth of BroVet culture and how they just suck. The mental health stigma as well. So we ask… what’re you ACTUALLY doing to help change the culture?

Lauren was a Sgt in the Army who knew that for her sake mentally and physically, med board was the best route. Even though one of the worst feelings is grief, and watching you career and goals just crumble with no control. She’s an MST Survivor, who’s raising her voice to ruffle feathers for change!

Effed Up Friday brought the fumes of bs that Friday entails and bad leadership… mainly just ranting and b*tching, sorry not sorry. This is a coping mechanisms.

Not only is Kara a Marine sister, but she was also Ms Veteran America Finalist in 2020, that help homeless women, even with dependents. Sharing her story with many resources with it as well. Kara is such a strong, genuine person, who turned dark times into light, surviving from child abuse, MST Survivor, to help others and to continue giving back. Check it out!

Effed Up Friday brings you another glorious and just effed up story. It’s different than most, but that’s what we’re here for. To give a platform to share your story & experience within the effed up system of our US Military. Autumn shares her story of an illegal discharge from the Navy. Received an Other Than Honorable for drug usage that was never tested or found. Instead they went off an old ro...

We brought on a fellow Marine sister, Shannon. Who not only has made history for women in the Artillery field of the Corps, but she’s now helping those that need help when battling mental health and homeless by coffee! Her non-profit, Happy Bean Project is doing the d*mn thing. Also thanks to Shannon we were able to find WorthTen20, create a partnership with them among many other organizations by...

If it wasn’t for this woman, we don’t know if Women With an Effed Up Mind would even be a thing. Dalina was a huge push for us to kick it and do what we do. We were angry for her and needed to speak, which later turned into doing what we do. Her viral TikTok crying, because justice wasn’t served, turned into another nightmare. She’s finally speaking on what she can, to tell her story and we’re ext...

Rambling on to summarize the subcommittee meeting (07/20) in regards of the findings and recommendations of the Independent Review Committee on Sexual Assault in the military. We’re quite impressed with the IRC and that Congress is recognizing that Domestic Violence is an issue as well. We ramble, rant, and give our opinion as well.

This week we brought light to an organization, founded by Smiles called, Vigilant Valkyrie. That bring women together, to show the camaraderie to each other as active duty women and veterans. She also brought a different perspective as an MP (Military Police) and having a first look of how flaw the system truly is, even as proper authority trying to handle it! Being told she’s “too motivated” or h...

Service members have it hard enough when they encounter domestic violence, but what about military spouses? Nobody cares about them, because they don’t wear the uniform. To kick of Season 2, we brought on Operation Foxhole, who’s doing the d*mn thing to help military spouse domestic violence survivors. They provide MANY resources to help them leave and get on their own feet. We’re officially selli...

That’s a wrap for Season 1! Take this weekend to remind yourself, that at the end of the day, We. Are. All. Humans. We’re Americans. We all have different views, different experiences, it just boils down to be a decent effing human. Happy 4th of July weekend! Enjoy it and be safe.

We wrapped up PTSD Awareness Month with… HEALTHY COPING. One big thing we preach is treating trauma in a healthy way. We brought on Amanda, who’s a MST and PTSD Survivor that turned trauma into beautiful jewelry. We showcased her beauty at Bead Priks, to show another outlet of healthy coping. We also call out bs on the 22 a day movement. Sorry not sorry.

Adam Derito is probably the saltiest of all salt dogs. Air Force Academy, Marine Corps OCS, and now a paratroop in the Colorado National Guard. He’s been fighting his case for YEARS now after being retaliated against for exposing the problem of sexual assault for over 30 people, including sports members. He lost his commission just days of getting it. So we felt his story needed to be shared more....

This week we welcomed Jessica, who is a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and came on to share her story. We’re trying to make a change here in the states, but we recognize this is a global issue. She suffered through a lot, for the sake of job, just to be rammed roded, and not get the position. So she’s now telling her story of her domestic violence.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND A WHOLE LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ON THIS EPISODE!!! Brought back Army Veteran, Lobbyist, and podcast host of Carry On, Lindsey Rowland! We discuss the Military Justice Improvement & Increasing Prevention Act, as well as, the Military Family Violence Prevention Act. What they entail, what our recommendations are, and what’s the big announcement? Listen closely! We’re on the path to mak...