Raw honesty meets hard-won wisdom in a conversation with three veterans who open up about service, identity, and the messy middle of healing. We explore how the military’s structure can be both lifeline and blindfold—building discipline and leadership while making it easy to bury pain in the name of the mission. From early careers where mental health was a no-go topic to a slow cultural shift toward prevention, they lay out what changed, what hasn’t, and why vulnerability makes units stronger, not weaker.
We dig into myths civilians hold about veterans and trauma, and why “strong and struggling” can be true at the same time. You’ll hear practical ways to support without clichés: ask simple questions, listen without fixing, and learn the basics of military culture so your words land. Families get real attention here too—the constant balancing act of deployments, childcare, and unknowns—and how the load often pushes people toward unhealthy coping unless a community shows up.
Scott and Stephanie ask our guests about the transition after the uniform too: the loss of mission, the hit to identity, and the temptation to fill the void with busyness or substances. Our guests share what helped them rebuild—therapy when ready, peer groups, veteran retreats, EMDR, and outdoor activities that blend movement with conversation. If you care about suicide prevention, veteran wellness, or simply want a clearer way to show up for people you love, this conversation will change how you listen and how you lead.
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