Can the warrior mindset that keeps you alive in combat…
…be the thing that holds you back once you're home?
In this episode of Point of Impact, Aaron Hale sits down with Ryan Woodruff, Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, to explore the unseen battles veterans face after the uniform comes off and what real healing actually requires.
Ryan shares his journey from infantryman in Iraq to struggling civilian and how service dogs became a pathway back to empathy, connection, and humanity. Together, they unpack the human-animal bond, the ripple effects of trauma, and why growth often comes through pressure, honesty, and being met where you are.
It's an honest look at healing and what it really takes to move forward, especially for veterans finding their way back to normalcy.
0:00 Intro
1:09 Meet Ryan Woodruff and Clear Path for Veterans
6:01 Finding purpose through service to other veterans
11:46 Dogs can carry our pain
14:27 How service dogs restore empathy and human connection
25:07 Training dogs for environmental resilience
28:05 How service dogs interrupt anxiety and panic
38:03 Why veterans downplay their own trauma
45:09 Authenticity and meeting veterans where they are
55:56 Countdown to Impact
Resources Mentioned:
Clear Path for Veterans:
https://clearpath4vets.org
Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
https://assistancedogsinternational.org/
📚 Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
https://amzn.to/4q6XbN2
📚 Gates of Fire — Steven Pressfield
https://amzn.to/44qMooI
📚 Can't Hurt Me — David Goggins
https://amzn.to/4s1KapE
📚 Wild at Heart — John Eldredge
https://amzn.to/4pzWnjU
📚 12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson
https://amzn.to/4pE9H6J
Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
