What happens when a soldier turns to poetry to process the unprocessable?
Today on Grey Matter, we welcome Ryan McDermott, West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, and author of the critically acclaimed memoir “Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet.”
In this deeply moving episode, Ryan shares his journey through three defining crucibles: military service during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the collapse of Lehman Brothers where he worked in 2008, and the personal struggles that followed. Throughout these experiences, Ryan found solace and meaning through poetry—a practice that helped him transform trauma into art.
“The evening was cool and damp in the early spring of 2011. Clouds drooped over the nation’s capital, creating the faintest fog as I walked along the Potomac River Trail from Georgetown to the Lincoln Memorial. My mind replayed the battles I thought I’d left behind. Between the deserts of Iraq in 2003 and the trading floors of Lehman Brothers in 2008, I now had to fight to save myself.”
Ryan’s compelling perspective on vulnerability as strength offers valuable insights for anyone facing adversity. As he poignantly notes through his interpretation of Hemingway: “You got to let go and in a sense break, not quit, but you allow yourself to break… vulnerability is a foundation of strength.”
Whether you’re interested in military experiences, financial crises, or the healing power of creative expression, this episode offers profound wisdom on resilience and finding what truly matters in life.
Don’t miss this powerful conversation that, as one reviewer said of Ryan’s book, “doesn’t just tell you what happened, he makes you feel why it mattered.”
Listen now and discover how poetry can transform even the darkest experiences into something meaningful.
Grey Matter is a Canadian 🇨🇦 podcast hosted by Alberta criminal trial lawyer, Leighton Grey.
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grey-matter/id1830597647
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