This is the final episode of the podcast. "Heart of a Volunteer: Veterans Podcast", what a hell of a run! As all things do, it must end. I'd like to thank everyone for being apart of this. The Veteran Co-hosts that came out of their comfort zones, dredged up old memories, reached other Veterans on a personal level, and gave the podcast class. Thank you. I know coming on the show wasn't easy sometimes, but the assistance that you gave, the example you set for others made it all worth it. 

The podcast will stay active for awhile, it will also be archived within a few of the platforms, so go back and listen to any episodes that you might have missed. No sponsors, just Veterans doing good works. 

Everyone stay safe, I'll see you on high ground. This is the final episode of "Heart of a Volunteer: Veterans Podcast".

Seems as if the podcast is up and running again. Spent a little time away from the Lake House, just to get my head right. Wasn't much I could do here, so exercised some battlefield patience and now we are sitting right. On top of just taking my mental health into account, taking time away gave time for the new equipment to arrive, which is amazing. (Episode on that soon). Caught up with Zach Carpenter (S3E5) and we chatted about the changes going on here in Sherwood Shores while the clean up and rebuild happens. Still a lot that needs to be done, but compared to a month after the tornado this is beautiful.

Zach and I both are looking at relocating, Zach to West Texas and myself to Belize, so we covered some of the reasoning behind that and what we are looking for in that next stage in life. Not only is Zach moving, but he has a baby boy on the way in late November, so making moves for the next chapter in his life, so good things going on out here in the world.

Everyone stay safe and enjoy the holiday weekend. Till next time...

Got to catch up with a Veteran who lives here at the lake, Zach Carpenter, and we soon became good friends. He took me out for a training session with his hunting dog "Bob". Zach has Bob trained as a birddog. I was amazed at just how dynamic they operated and wanted to know more. So a couple weeks later here we are.

Zach talks us through his upbringing, his military service, and then he gets into dog selection. Zach is keen on the "German Short-hair Pointer" and talks about the training routine that he uses, ranging from Commands, Retrieval, Table Breaking, Field/Water Work, and Competitions. Zach has a way with dogs, he proved it here at my place with my pups. Zach spends a lot of time afield, so no surprise that he has seen Sasquatch, not once, but twice! Great conversation.

Everyone stay safe and blessed out there. Subscribe to the show, share it and let me know what I can do to make it better.

©HOV2022

Caught up with the seven-time co-host on the podcast, Dan Hurd, to talk about the conclusion of his cycling journey across the lower 48 states for suicide awareness. During the episode we talk about the changes that have occurred during the three and half years that he's been out on the road. From the start, to the shift to riding to raise suicide awareness, the pandemic slow down, the accident in Arizona and 22k miles later, finishing what most thought he wasn't mentally prepared for or that his injuries were too great for him to ever ride a bike again.

Dan's story isn't a new one, we hear people from all walks of life out there doing uncommon things, but as we listen to these challenges faced do we see ourselves at some degree and ask if we need a good ol' fashion deep challenge to get us to the next level? If not, we should be. So that is the challenge to you, take yourself deep on a personal level. Take a fascination in yourself, learn the little things and ask yourself questions. Get yourself involved in something that you know if going to change you, you're not meant to wither on the vine.

There are a total of five episodes where Dan talks about his journey. Here they are: S1, Veterans Chat 18, 23 & 34, and S2, Veterans Chat 3.

Dr. Katie Kopp joins me for a second time on the podcast, this time we tackle suicide and turning our mental health around. Won't lie, had a really tough week. Someone who holds a place in my heart took his life, I haven't felt this level of loss in a very long time, so very fortunate to have Dr. Kopp available to come on and have a chat.

Opening things right up, Katie asked me when suicide first effected me. I have to say, two hours later and I feel really good about opening up, sharing my feelings on it and having her there to help me sift through things. Each of us have a had experience that we have a hard time getting around, opening up about these sticking points is clutch. If you're listening to yourself and you're not healing, then you need someone to help you out. 

From the point of hopelessness, we talk about not being able to find a way out of our situation, life, and how suicide feels like the only option. How do we gain a footing here and pull ourselves back from the brink? 

1) Take care of your personal hygiene and stay healthy.

2) Get a Veteran or 100 in YOUR LIFE! You are either helping or being helped, either way its a win-win for everyone. Everyone needs someone to call them out. This isn't a daily thing here, this is a check-in, get on in there.

3) Know yourself and seek self-improvement. Find out and understand what makes you who you are. Dive deep into what is bothering you, break it up into pieces and understand those little chunks. Stay in the zone of understanding it, gain full knowledge and understanding, move to the next chunk.

4) Don't get comfortable, our demons are waiting...keep your head on a swivel and keep moving!

5) Normalizing Trauma means that you have understanding of what makes you tick. Now its time to make it normal, this trauma is apart of you, your personality will always have elements of this trauma. Breaking the cycle of silence, opening up and getting sound advice from those you trust.

6) Build Compassion & Empathy for yourself, you've been through a lot, take credit for it. If it makes you sad then imagine how others feel, you showing that this too effects you, that is having compassion and empathy. This also helps others to normalize their trauma. A damn win-win again.

Everyone take it easy out there. Reach out to someone and have a meaningful conversation about life. Reach out to Dr. Kopp if you have questions or need guidance on getting plugged into a counselor, katiekopp@gmail.com. Any Veteran that would like to come on and have a chat on the show, email: hovpodcast7@yahoo.com. Let's get it done.

Stay safe and blessed!

HOV©2021

Through the course of life we find ourselves, on many occasions, barely holding on to the things we value and put our works into. These many years of life have taught me, in brutal ways sometimes, that change is all around us. We struggle, which is our nature as humans it seems, fighting against the current of life, wondering when we are going to catch a break. Well, that break will never happen, the moment and environment that made that work has passed. Change is all around us, we are in the eye of something that is in constant flux, this is unavoidable.

Resistance to change causes us to be anchored to an old way, one that has passed its period of usefulness. In saying that, the podcast is adjusting to the change times and updating itself, so as to not swim against the current of life as a Veteran. 

The long standing episode, the Saga, is out. On paper this episode is amazing, Veterans Gold, but in reality this episode opens chapters of life, that for some produce setbacks. Much like the “war story” genre, if you’re not growing from it then it is holding you back from understanding it. War is not something we just do, war is lived - that lived part of life must be known to us, without the “fog of war” obscuring the truth.

More to follow in regards to episodes. “Children of Fallen Patriots” is an amazing non-profit that provides “gap” assistance to Gold Star Children for college. This organization was founded in 2002 and has provided educational funds, scholarships and more to over 2000 Gold Star Scholars. This is an organization that I know we all can get behind. Reach out to the Gold Star Families you know and ask them if they have enrolled, free benefits, don’t let em go to waste.

“Veterans Mental Health Series” will be out here in a couple of months, four episodes talking about “Our Mental Health” and how we can move up a couple of levels in owning it. 

Reach out if you’d like to come on the podcast for a chat, all are welcome. Till then, everyone stay safe, blessed and engaged.