Mentorship for veterans, identity after military life, and navigating transition are core topics in this profound and inspiring episode featuring Dr. Deborah Heiser. Discover how mentorship—particularly lateral mentorship—can transform the way veterans re-enter civilian life, reclaim identity, and build new purpose.
🎙️ In this robust conversation, host Adam Peters dives deep into the emotional and practical aspects of separating from the military. Whether you’re in SkillBridge, facing an MEB, or a recently transitioned service member, this episode provides the mentorship roadmap you didn’t know you needed.
Dr. Deborah Heiser, an award-winning psychologist and founder of The Mentor Project, shares transformational insights about identity, resilience, and human connection. With a global-scale impact of over 3 million mentorship hours, she explains how mentorship occurs all around us—and how you are likely a mentor already!
Chapters:
0:00 - Opening: Identity Crisis After Transition
2:11 - Introducing Dr. Deborah Heiser & The Mentor Project
4:40 - Reframing Identity Beyond the Uniform
7:55 - Losing Military Structure & Finding Accountability
12:30 - The Role of Connection in Self-Discovery
16:15 - Why Veterans Struggle With Mentorship & Isolation
21:00 - Defining Mentorship: Intrinsic, Not Transactional
28:33 - Mentorship Happens Laterally, Not Hierarchically
33:50 - Personal Lessons in Lateral Mentorship
39:12 - Real-Life Example of Mentorship Saving Lives (NASA)
46:48 - The Power of Intuition and Multiple Mentors
49:55 - The Mentor Project: Global Reach & Call to Action
55:01 - Inspiring Stories from The Mentor Project
1:02:00 - How to Get Involved: Mentee or Mentor
1:04:20 - Closing Thoughts, Contact Info & Final Wrap-Up
🔶 KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:
• Understanding Identity Crisis After Leaving the Military
• High-Leverage Skills From Service That Apply to Civilian Life
• The Difference Between Coaching, Advising, and True Mentorship
• How Lateral Mentorship Can Help Vets In Real-Time
• Building Lifelong Networks for Growth and Purpose
• Unlocking Global Mentorship Opportunities Through The Mentor Project
🎖️ MILITARY EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
• 🎖️ Host: Adam Peters – U.S. Army Infantry, medically retired via MEB
• 13 years served, enlisted at age 17, transitioned at 30
• Speaks from firsthand experience navigating identity loss, reintegration, accountability, and mentorship gaps
💼 EXPERTISE / CIVILIAN SUCCESS:
• Dr. Deborah Heiser – Award-winning psychologist, author, CEO
• Founder of The Mentor Project – 3 M+ mentorship hours globally
• Focus: Identity, aging, intergenerational connection, and purpose-building
• TEDx Speaker, Psychology Today contributor, Amazon author (“The Mentorship Edge”)
• Advocate for veterans finding meaning post-service
📣 GET INVOLVED
→ Become a mentee (students of all ages): https://www.mentorproject.org
→ Contact to become a mentor: Click “Contact Us” on the site
#VeteranTransition #MilitaryToCivilian #MentorshipMatters #TheMentorProject #StrategicVeteran
