Struggle Well Podcast

The messy withdrawal from Afghanistan has caused many service members and veterans to question the value of their time there, and to question why it is worth the loss of brothers and sisters. Josh Goldberg sat down with Lt. Col Aaron Schilleci, who was deployed in support of the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan and the battle against ISIS, to get his thoughts. If you are struggling in the midst of all that is happening – you certainly aren't alone. If you need support, visit warriorpathh.org and apply for our Warrior PATHH program.

Don't miss this deep dive into the power of Warrior PATHH and how it can benefit you in any situation. Join Ken Falke as he sits down and chats with Erika Emmons, WP72 Alumni, about her life before and after the program, as well as how it helped her prepare to care for her mother in her final moments of 2020. Erika Emmons is a 6-year Army National Guard combat veteran. She deployed with the 36th Infantry Division to Iraq from 2010-2011 as an imagery analyst before getting out in 2012. She currently lives in Cary, NC for her job with BAE Systems, Inc where she works as a software trainer, technical support, and a Jane of all trades in the GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) community. Erika attended the Warrior PATHH program at Boulder Crest Virginia in October of 2019 and is a proud member of WP class 072 (Valkyrie). She actually put off attending the program for over a year & a half because she felt there were other vets who needed it more than her, but thanks to the gentle persistence of Joe Wood, she relented. Today she readily admits that she needed the program more than she realized & that self-care is NOT selfish, but necessary.Erika’s biggest personal accomplishment this year was being able to be her mother’s primary caregiver in her last chapter of life. Throughout the year Erika shared her journey through public posts on Instagram & Facebook in hopes of reaching people who are either in similar situations or may be in the future. Her goal was to help just one person, but now she has expanded that goal to reach as many as possible. She is working on a YouTube series about being a primary caregiver & is also in the very early stages of writing a book on the same topic.www.strugglewell.comwww.bouldercrest.org

Don't miss this inspiring podcast with Ken Falke and Vietnam veteran Howard Myers, and his son, Chad Myers, on their story of thriving after trauma. Howard not only recovered from his Vietnam War wounds that blinded him, but he was able to create a positive mindset despite his hardships and tells his journey on this episode of the StruggleWell Podcast. To read their book click here https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Vision-Veterans-Trauma-Triumph/dp/1939237572To find our more go to www.blindvisionassociates.com

Ken talks to the “Grateful American” and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, Gary Sinise, about their friendship, shared commitment to serving veterans, and the importance of service.

We are in the midst of an unprecedented epidemic that is causing a great deal of struggle around the country and world. Who better to talk about enforced isolation, deprivation, and no clear end in sight than Charlie Plumb, who spent years in captivity as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton.

Listen to Josh Goldberg and Ken Falke break down the wellness triangle and how you stay balanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair provide guidance on each part of the triangle with helpful tips to struggle well. If you love what you hear, get  the book on Amazon and dive deep into the Struggle Well philosophy.

Listen to our Warrior PATHH Alumni Ian Ricci, and newly appointed Mobile Training Team PATHH Guide, share his ptg journey and the road ahead. Ian lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his wife and three daughters.

At one point the longest deployed psychologist in U.S. Army history, Dr. Bret Moore talks about what inspired him to become a psychologist, life in the Army, how he learned about PTG, and tips for living a great life and learning to struggle well.

Thanksgiving reminds us all to always be grateful and have gratitude for all we have in life. Listen to Josh Goldberg, the Executive Director of the Boulder Crest Institute, and Nate McCafferty, BCR VA PATHH Guide, dissect gratitude and how we practice that in Warrior PATHH.www.BoulderCrestRetreat.com/WarriorPATHHwww.BoulderCrestInstitute.orgwww.strugglewell.com

Listen to Navy EOD wife, Lindsey Stacy, talk about her life as a caregiver and give insight into her daily life managing a household of six. Lindsey is married to Kenton Stacy, a highly decorated Navy Senior Chief EOD Technician, who holds two bronze stars and a purple heart. They have four children together and currently reside in San Diego, California. The couple grew up in Greenville, Ohio, and were high school sweethearts.On November 9, 2017, towards the end of Kenton’s fourth combat deployment, he was struck by an IED while clearing a hospital in Syria. The IED detonated and forever changed their lives. Kenton had to fight for his life and was resuscitated four times after the blast. He lost six inches of his trachea and 42 pints of blood. The IED penetrated through his neck and out his spine leaving him a quadriplegic. The shrapnel has left Kenton blind in his left eye, and his voice box and vocal cords were so damaged he can’t produce a voice and relies on his wife to read his lips.Kenton remains strong and still manages to smile every day. Kenton cognitively is all there and can remember everything prior to the blast going off. This last year has been the hardest year for the family, and even more so for Kenton.Lindsey is a survivor and has had the opportunity to travel to 12 countries in her life. Before becoming a full-time caregiver, she studied travel and tourism, and interned at Walt Disney World, which holds a special place in her heart. Lindsey knows the road will continue to be difficult but is grateful to have her husband alive.They will be celebrating his “Alive Day” On November 9, 2019 with the 2019 STACY STRONG 5K to help raise funds for the ever growing expensive to take care of Kenton. To register and find out more information click here https://www.classy.org/event/2019-stacy-strong-5k/e234450Read a background of their story here https://www.stripes.com/news/us/a-bomb-blast-a-phone-call-and-a-navy-family-forever-changed-1.588483/kenton-stacy-1.588485www.strugglewell.comwww.bouldercrestretreat.orgwww.bouldercrestinstitute.org

Listen to Josh Goldberg talk about his struggles with suicide, posttraumatic growth, and answer questions with special guest Anna Kavanaugh, Boulder Crest Institute's Content Manager.Stay: A History of Suicide and the Philosophies Against It https://www.amazon.com/Stay-History-Suicide-Philosophies-Against/dp/B00FVX7SVK/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=stay&qid=1569201795&s=books&sr=1-16

Listen to RET US Marine Tim Brown, a native of San Antonio and Houston, Texas, tell his story of how he survived an IED blast in February 2011 and how it changed his life forever. From chats with his EOD teammates, as well as a helmet camera video, he learned that on the afternoon of 3 February 2011, he triggered an explosive device while responding to an IED that was discovered by the Marines of India Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines. Taliban forces in Sangin, Afghanistan specifically designed this IED to target his EOD team; a team which had already lost a team leader to severe wounds. The blast caused Tim to lose both legs above the knee, his right arm above the elbow, mangled his left hand, and left him with severe damage to the perineum. Tim has made 40 trips to the operating room since that date for reconstructive surgeries. Tim retired from the Marine Corps and is currently finishing his degree from Georgetown University. He will spend the next year as the head of the University’s Student Veterans chapter. Upon graduation, Tim plans to work in the nonprofit space and serve those who have suffered severe injuries - both veterans and civilians.Read more here https://www.bushcenter.org/people/timothy-w-brown.htmlwww.strugglewell.comwww.bouldercrestretreat.orgwww.bouldercrestinstitute.org

Josh and Ken sit down with Andrew Bottrell, a former Navy EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Technician, who shares his story, lessons learned, and outlook on life. He talks about how he managed to not become addicted to painkillers while still able to use prosthetic legs just two months after his injury in Afghanistan in 2011. The blast took three of Andrew’s limbs; both legs and one arm. Andrew says that NONE of these things define him. He believes you need to dominate your life through whatever happens. If you do not like your situation, change it. Do not blame somebody else for it and do not wait for somebody else to do something about it. You are not entitled to anything, only what you work for. Take control of your own life, because life is what you make of it, so make the best of it. Andrew lives with his wife and daughter in San Diego, California.Andrew's Bio with Gary Sinise: https://youtu.be/vuezyunGKRQAndrew Bottrell's Home Dedication: https://youtu.be/heTfDL_OF9I

Listen to Ken and Josh speak to Retired U.S. Army SFC Michael Schlitz talk about life in the military and his journey to strength and growth after he and his crew were hit with an improvised explosive device (IED) on a road-clearing mission in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007. Mike didn’t learn until 11 months after getting hit that his gunman and medic were killed instantly, and his driver passed away shortly after the blast. Mike, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was ejected from the vehicle and lost both hands and his eyesight in his left eye due to a scarred cornea. He sustained burns on 85% of his body. Mike works for the Gary Sinise Foundation and has partnered with Josh, Ken, and the Boulder Crest team to support and mentor fellow veterans walking their own journey of PTG. Mike is a student, coach, and mentor, and a true example of PTG in action. Listen to his amazing story now. www.StruggleWell.comwww.BoulderCrestInstitute.org

Josh Goldberg, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth, checked in with Dr. Richard Tedeschi, the founder of the term “Posttraumatic Growth,” as they discuss the history of PTG and how combat veterans and people can learn to thrive after suffering trauma. Dive in and listen now.

Ken Falke, the Chairman and Founder of Boulder Crest and the EOD Warrior Foundation, and Josh Goldberg, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth, co-wrote a book called “Struggle Well: Thriving in the aftermath of Trauma” last May. Since then, Struggle Well has been spreading all over the nation. Now, these two mental health innovators decided to take the message further and launch the Struggle Well Podcast, supported by the Mental Health News Radio Network. Listen to Ken and Josh talk about their journey from Boulder Crest Retreat to the launch of the podcast and what it’s all about.

Taylor Morris, a former Navy EOD, (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Technician, shares his story from struggle to strength with the founder of Boulder Crest Retreat, Ken Falke. He talks about how he grew up with a love for tinkering and how he found his passion with the Navy as a bomb disposal specialist. On May 3, 2012, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated while Taylor was clearing a path into a building to provide his Special Forces A- team cover from enemy fire during a mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The blast took all four of Taylor’s limbs. Taylor spent two years of rehabilitation in the hospital and has an incredible positive outlook on his future. Taylor is a great example of posttraumatic growth and how he is able to keep pushing through when so many others might lose hope. Taylor lives with his wife, Danielle, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.www.strugglewell.comwww.bouldercrestinstitute.orghttps://taylormorris.org/https://youtu.be/1ieBAM8vv_U