Drive On: Helping Veterans Navigate PTSD & Life After Military Service

The climb out of the lowest moments isn't clean or quick, and this conversation holds nothing back. A young airman who sprinted out of a rough home life, Brandon Held built a future through grit, service, and education. Then life took the legs out from under him. Losing his marriage. Losing daily life with his kids. Losing his career. Losing his footing. One night, he downed a bottle of sleeping pills and waited for the silence. Someone found him in time. That one act gave him a second chance he didn't think he deserved. Brandon opens up about how he rebuilt his mind, confidence, habits, and purpose. He talks through the years of suicidal ideation, how old patterns nearly destroyed him, and the moment he drew a line and chose to fight his way back. Timestamps: 13:45: The first time suicide crossed his mind 16:30: The night he tried to end everything 21:00: Learning how to rebuild his mindset from scratch 33:45: Surviving every bad day and seeing the shift 47:45: His final message for anyone stuck in a dark season Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.brandonheld.com/ Follow Brandon Held on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bh_life_is_crazy/ Follow Brandon Held on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-held-m-b-a-lifeiscrazy/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

A lot of vets say music is the only thing that still makes sense, and for Tony Kessel, that idea runs deep. He built a 366-song playlist of his life, wrote the story tied to each track, and found himself looking at a full account of growing up in a foster home, serving in the Army National Guard, and working through suicidal thoughts. With more than two decades in uniform, he talks about being raised by a Vietnam veteran NCO, commissioning as an officer, and learning to lead while valuing the experience that NCOs bring. Music runs through all of it, from Garth Brooks and old country to heavy metal and the tracks that shaped the post-9/11 years. Our conversation covers how music served as both a coping tool and a warning sign, why non-combat deployments can still weigh on you, and how suicide intervention training pushed him to speak openly about his lowest points. We get into the shock of coming home from Kuwait or Afghanistan almost overnight, the support he has offered other vets, and why simply sitting with someone who is struggling matters. Tony also shares how he is using his home studio and writing to reach people who think they are carrying their pain alone. Timestamps 00:06:30 Tony's wide musical background and how different genres shaped his life. 00:09:45 The late-night drive after drill that sparked the 366 song playlist. 00:18:30 Using music to cope, the risks of relying on it to numb pain, and the moment he knew he had to face things directly. 00:26:30 Suicide intervention training, opening up about suicide attempts, and why sharing his story matters. 00:31:30 Returning home too fast after deployment and how that sudden shift affects veterans. Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://dualistmedia.com Follow Tony Kessel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dualistmedia Follow Tony Kessel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dualistmedia Follow Tony Kessel on Twitter/X: https://www.twitter.com/dualistmedia Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

When the Army chapter closed, Cory Brown didn't know what came next. A decade later, he's a veteran, entrepreneur, and creator of "Eat Your Feelings," a YouTube show that pairs cooking with honest talk about mental health. What started as a lighthearted project became a space for veterans and civilians alike to laugh, cry, and talk about the heavy stuff while breaking bread. In this conversation, Cory shares how food became his outlet as a way to manage stress and reconnect with others. He opens up about the transition from the military to the corporate world, the pull to create something meaningful, and how showing vulnerability on camera helped others do the same. Timestamps: 00:03:00: Leaving the military and rebuilding life from scratch 00:06:00: How "Eat Your Feelings" began and what it really stands for 00:10:45: Cooking as therapy and the role of humor in healing 00:18:15: Breaking stigma and creating real conversations about mental health 00:28:00: Why action, no matter how small, beats fear every time Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.eatyourfeelingsshow.com/ Eat Your Feelings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatYourFeelingsShow Eat Your Feelings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatyourfeelingsshow/ Follow Cory Brown on Twitter/X: https://x.com/Pcorybrown Eat Your Feelings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eat-your-feelings-media Eat Your Feelings on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EatYourFeelingsShow Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

A submarine is one of the most demanding workplaces on Earth. Confined, tense, and utterly dependent on trust and focus. William Spears has spent his career in that world, learning how to lead and think clearly when everything around him demands perfection. His journey led him to Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches emotional discipline, clarity, and responsibility. In this episode, William explains how the same ideas that once guided ancient philosophers can help today's service members, veterans, and families face the stress of modern life. He talks about the link between Stoicism and modern therapy, how the idea of total responsibility changes how we lead and parent, and why writing down our thoughts can be one of the most powerful tools for mental clarity. This conversation is a practical guide to keeping your balance when life feels like it's closing in. Timestamps: 00:07:00: How Stoicism became a modern tool for resilience 00:13:00: The connection between ancient philosophy and therapy 00:21:00: Redefining responsibility and control 00:29:00: The "Responsibility Heuristic" and how it applies to leadership 00:49:00: The journaling habit that builds steadiness and focus Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://williamcspears.com/ Follow William Spears on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-spears-89130443/ Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy Book: https://a.co/d/j09noDt How to Think Like a Roman Emperor Book: https://a.co/d/cJagK5C Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

Cheri Carandanis spent her career caring for others as an Air Force nurse and later in hospice. After two brain injuries forced her to retire, she had to face life without the role that once defined her. What began as a simple attempt to follow medical advice led her to something unexpected: painting. Through it, she found healing, direction, and a deeper understanding of herself. In this episode, Cheri talks about growing up in a military family, serving through deployments, and learning to rebuild after loss. Her story is a reminder that recovery takes time, creativity can be medicine, and there's always a way forward, even when life throws you a curveball. Timestamps: 04:00 - What deployment is like for a nurse 10:00 - Life on an early base in Afghanistan. Chaos, humor, and teamwork 15:00 - The brain injuries that ended her nursing career 17:30 - Picking up a paintbrush for the first time and finding peace 30:00 - Why she now sees the injury as a turning point, not an ending Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.carandanisfineart.com Follow Cheri Carandanis on Facebook: www.facebook.com/carandanisfineart Follow Cheri Carandanis on Instagram: www.instagram.com/carandanisfineart Transcript View the transcript for this episode.