ptsd Archives -

Ep 066 – Lauren Sisler | Firsthand Effects of Addiction and Overcoming Tragedy

August 5, 2019 By Thad Forester

When Lauren Sisler’s phone rang at 3 am, she never expected her father to say that her mother had died. When her plane landed in Virginia that same day, all she wanted was a big hug from her dad, only he wasn’t there. In those few hours, he had died too.

Today, this ESPN and AL.com sports broadcaster tells how she was ashamed for far too long about how her parents died. When she finally was transparent–that they had overdosed on prescription painkillers, she felt freedom and healing.

This Navy daughter has an inspirational message about overcoming grief and despair and finding success. After all, she was only 18 when she lost both parents. Thank goodness for her older brother, Aunt and Uncle, and coaches at Rutgers who didn’t cut her any slack.

I look forward to seeing her on the sidelines more this year in the college football season.

You can also watch this interview on YouTube.

Thank you Sheepdog Firearms for letting us record another show in your fine facility.

Mentioned in this episode:

Paralyzed UAB Football Player Tim Alexander keeps promise

Follow Lauren on Instagram

Follow Lauren on Twitter

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Ep 053 – Chaplain Justin Roberts – Director of No Greater Love movie

March 26, 2018 By Thad Forester

justin roberts

Justin Roberts is our first Chaplain on the show. I thought we were going to mainly talk about his new movie, “No Greater Love“, but I also got educated on the emotional roller coaster roles of an Army Chaplain.

Roberts, the director and producer of No Greater Love, has experienced the reality of war and its aftermath first hand. While deployed in Afghanistan with the legendary “No Slack” Battalion, he witnessed brave men and women sacrifice themselves to protect others. Justin also witnessed suicide, the first occurring just two days after arriving at his new battalion. Then, at Brooks Army Medical Center he witnessed the physical and emotional struggle veterans experience even after returning home, including their intense sense of isolation.

This award-winning documentary shares the experiences of Chaplain Roberts and other soldiers through combat footage and emotional interviews.

It was released in theaters in Nov 2017, and will be available on DVD March 27, 2018.

You can order the movie here.

If you’re not sure of a trustworthy organization to support, Justin has provided a solution here where you can select a non-profit he has listed or search for one near you.

Nogreaterlovemovie.com/give

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 034 – “Bring it on”, with Jack Fanning, CCT, Quadriplegic

August 7, 2017 By Thad Forester

Jack Fanning was a combat controller training for a new team when a night time HAHO training jump went terribly wrong.

When he jumped from the aircraft, he was at the pinnacle of physical shape, with hundreds of jumps under his belt. However, Fanning ended up hitting the ground at 35 knots (~40 mph) which caused his C3 to overlap his C4. While on the ground, he had a very hard time breathing and said “I knew I was dying.” Somehow, his IR strobe got turned on and his teammates found him.

After some miracles, much determination, and remaining positive, Jack is now an active quadriplegic who skydives, skis, hunts, scuba dives, and other activities.

He’s also a founding member of “Brother’s Keepers“, which is a non-profit that provides retreats and support for our wounded warriors, their families, and others in our community who are in need. He’s found immense healing by serving others.

This warrior is determined to walk again. Therapy kicks his butt 3-days/week and he’s flexed one bicep and walked with robot legs.

Fanning gave some advice for those considering spec ops:

you’ve got to be in shape
It’s about 80% mental. When the body wants to quit, you’ve got to override that feeling with mental toughness.

And if you’re struggling from seen or unseen wounds, ask for help. It’s also beneficial to talk about your injury/problem. Keep a positive attitude and get up and do it (whatever ‘it’ is). You’ll be uplifted when you hear Jack talk about his recovery and feel his fighting spirit.

Learn more about Jack Fanning below and other organizations mentioned in this episode:

Jack Fanning – My Story

Brother’s Keepers

National Ability Center

Jackrabbit documentary

*Also, we’re now on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content.

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 032 – Lt. Col. Dave Grossman: Killology 101

July 10, 2017 By Thad Forester

Grossman Academy home page

“Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.” (spoken by the sheepdogs; the warriors).

What do you ask the expert in the study of the psychology of killing?

Dave Grossman is the country’s #1 trainer of military and law enforcement who helps those who have to kill overcome the natural resistance to killing.

There is no safety in denial

Among the many things we discuss today are the difference between sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. Which one are you? Well he’s going to describe each one and how they respond to threatening situations. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds.

Grossman’s books are required reading for DEA, military and police units. He travels 250+ days/year as one of our nation’s leading trainers for military, law enforcement, mental health providers, and school safety organizations. He helped train mental health professionals after the Jonesboro school massacre, and he was also involved in counseling or court cases in the aftermath of the Paducah, Springfield, Littleton and Nickel Mines Amish school massacres.

Our kids have been taught to blow brains out and get points

Yes, we even talk about the effects of violence on TV and in video games, especially in very young children. Feed our youngsters virtuous info and images, then once they are more mature, it’s okay to see some violence. Don’t take a 5-year-old to see “Saving Private Ryan” for heaven’s sake.

Sleep deprivation

He also gives staggering statistics regarding the effects of sleep deprivation in everyone – young and old. Don’t let your kids go to bed with their phones/devices. And we adults shouldn’t either. He will explain a few reasons why.

Veteran’s health

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is also very passionate about our veteran’s health and the anti-war smear of our veterans by the media. PTSD is treatable! And survival guilt is normal. It’s not PTSD. For those with PTSD, don’t let it stop you from getting better. Grossman provides an example from a very well-known veteran.

Every day carry (EDC)

We even talk about being prepared with tools to protect us, our families, and others. He said, “I’d rather walk out the door naked and alone than to be with my loved ones without the tools to protect us.”

My conversation with this Army Ranger, paratrooper and former West Point Psychology Professor blew me away. He’s a dynamic speaker who uses facts, passion, and common sense.

Learn more about Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, his books and academy here:

www.killology.com

Grossman Academy

On Combat

On Killing (perennial bestseller)

Stop Teaching our Kids to Kill

Warrior Mindset: Mental Toughness Skills for our Nation’s Peacekeepers

Sheepdogs – Meet our Nation’s Warriors (children’s book)

Why Mommy Carries a Gun, American Sheepdogs (children’s book)

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Episode 030 – Iraq veteran and financial planner Benjamin Brandt

June 12, 2017 By Thad Forester

benjamin brandt financial planner

I asked Benjamin Brandt how deploying to a war zone prepared him to be a financial planner. He said in the military they learned to act without thinking. In his profession now, it’s important to think without acting.

He was a member of Task Force Trailblazer where he was a combat engineer. Their mission was to identify IED’s so US and coalition forces are assured mobility. While deployed in 2003-2005 for 15 months, he saw IED’s get more and more sophisticated.

Now 12 years later he has a successful business teaching people how to retire. He also gives us solid advice how to plan a vacation on a limited budget by:

have 30 daily (not monthly) budget meeting with spouse
do not round numbers, be specific. You can save a few dollars here and there that will add up each month
Press pause on what you can – cable, Netflix, lawn maintenance, etc

We have a great talk about actionable steps we can take to put ourselves in better financial positions. And Benjamin is open about his PTSD and how he has no side effects now.

Retirement Starts Today

You can watch him on his weekly show “Money Monday” in a Gorilla suit here:

http://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/money-monday-trick-or-treat/603482833

He’s an interesting guy with no secrets. He even hired a private investigator to find out everything about him and he published on his blog.

Learn more about Brandt here, including listening to his podcast:

http://retirementstartstoday.com/

Blog

Subscribe to his podcast

Benjamin created this link for our listeners:

http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/patriot/

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.
Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

There is no safety in denial

Our kids have been taught to blow brains out and get points

Sleep deprivation

Veteran’s health

Every day carry (EDC)

Retirement Starts Today

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