In this raw and unfiltered short, Jared Eakin — Executive Director and veteran advocate — opens up about his own darkest moment: hitting rock bottom and feeling like there was no one there to help. Now, he's become the person he wishes he'd had.

"I want to be that person or organization or program that I didn't have or feel like I had when I was going through."

If you or a veteran you know is struggling, you're not alone. Reach out. There is help. There is hope.

📞 Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1

📞 Or text 838255

#ScarsAndStripesUnfiltered #VeteranMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #VeteranSupport #RealStoriesRealStruggles #MentalHealthAwareness

Jared & Tayler sit down at Suite P Studios to share the story behind Scars & Stripes: Unfiltered and why they felt it was time to create a platform where veterans and their families can have real, honest conversations.

Bringing two different but deeply connected perspectives—Jared as a veteran and veteran advocate, and Tayler as a therapist and military spouse—they discuss the purpose behind the podcast and the conversations they believe need to be heard.

Scars & Stripes: Unfiltered is about more than telling stories. It's about breaking down stigma, talking openly about mental health, transition, relationships, recovery, struggles and successes, and reminding veterans and their families that there are multiple pathways forward.

No scripts. No sugarcoating. Just real conversations about the scars we carry, the strength we find, and everything in between.

🇺🇸 Scars & Stripes: Unfiltered — Real Stories. Real Struggles. Real Strength.

#ScarsAndStripesUnfiltered #Veterans #VeteranPodcast #VeteranMentalHealth #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranSuicidePrevention #PTSD #VeteranSupport #MilitarySpouse #VeteransHelpingVeterans #TurningScarsIntoStrength

Jared and Tayler Eakin introduce their new studio and explain why they created Scars and Stripes Unfiltered alongside their nonprofit, Scars and Stripes (founded in 2023). Jared shares the conversation at the VA that led him to focus on upstream suicide prevention by addressing veterans’ life stressors and helping them navigate complex VA systems for needs like rent, utilities, prescriptions, job search, and gas. Tayler, an LCSW and emergency services coordinator at Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness, discusses isolation and hopes the podcast’s storytelling and education can reach people who are struggling. They describe the loss of identity and teamwork after leaving the military, the importance of putting veterans first in service work, and their goal to feature veterans, spouses, clinicians, and organizations in unfiltered conversations.

00:00 Welcome to the Studio
00:35 Why This Podcast Exists
01:22 Scars and Stripes Mission
02:31 The VA Cigar Conversation
04:55 Unfiltered Podcast Vision
06:13 Meet Taylor the Clinician
07:33 Isolation and Healing
10:16 Purpose After Starting Nonprofit
14:16 Navigating VA and Upstream Help
18:42 Spouse Perspective on Service
22:15 What to Expect Next
22:50 Contact Info and Closing