Today, I sit down with Ricky D. Sluder — a published author, former law enforcement officer, and the founder of Accepting Truth, Finding Hope. In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, we uncover what happens when trauma, PTSD, and toxic systems go untreated, and how faith and honest conversation can offer the kind of healing most institutions can’t. Mr. Sluder brings raw lived experience and a faith-based alternative to modern mental health, sharing what years of therapy, medication, and pain taught him — and how he now helps others break free from their own strongholds.
We dive into heavy topics — childhood trauma, PTSD, gaslighting in leadership, negative coping behaviors, and the difference between true healing and the illusion of quick fixes. Mr. Sluder unpacks what he calls “the anatomy of a stronghold” — a step-by-step descent that starts with lies believed in childhood and results in destructive habits that many military, law enforcement, and trauma survivors know too well. We also discuss the spiritual side of mental health, including how traditional systems fail veterans and how God stepped into Mr. Sluder’s life through a series of miraculous events involving his daughter’s healing.
This episode is for anyone battling isolation, numbness, or addiction, and anyone who’s been written off by their chain of command or buried by their own past. We talk about the system’s failures, but more importantly, we talk about what’s next: healing, boundaries, acceptance, identity, security, and purpose.
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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.