In this conversation, Thad and Nick O'Kelly delve into Nick's extraordinary journey from being a Special Forces Green Beret to a pilot in the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), and his abrupt transition to civilian life due to medical retirement. Nick opens up about his battle with depression, the profound impact it had on his life, and his subsequent journey toward healing and advocacy. The conversation highlights the struggles and triumphs of military life and the journey of self-discovery, covering several key points:
• The stigma surrounding mental health and the importance of seeking help.
• The challenges of dealing with mental health issues while serving in the military and the impact on personal relationships.
• The difficulty of finding a new sense of purpose after leaving the military.
• Nick's insights on resilience, self-awareness, and the value of being true to oneself.
Nick shares his journey of getting diagnosed with narcolepsy and anxiety with panic disorder, which led him to pursue a career in financial planning.
• The importance of finding a new sense of purpose in life
Additional topics include:
• The challenges of starting a new career
• Nick's upcoming book, Stigma
• Nick’s involvement with The Davis Focus Project, a nonprofit focused on human performance for active duty and veteran service members
Keywords
Nick O'Kelly, Thad, military, Green Beret, pilot, depression, goals, self-discovery, mental health, military, relationships, purpose, diagnosis, narcolepsy, anxiety, financial planning, transition, military, financial planning, mental health, healing, advocacy, career, stigma, resilience, self-awareness, book, human performance, nonprofit
Takeaways
Nick O'Kelly is a former Green Beret and pilot who shares his experiences in the military and his battle with depression.
