Show Summary

On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Veteran family member Chris Weedon, Founder and Executive Director of the Mentally Shredded Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing burnout and strengthening mental resilience through movement, reflection, conversation, and community.

Episode Partner:

This episode is sponsored by CareLinx by Sharecare, connecting Veterans, Service Members, and military Families with trusted home care and caregiver support. 

Provide Support:

Take a moment to turn your gratitude into action. For just $15, you can help provide military culture training to one person who supports veterans and their families, equipping them to respond with greater understanding, confidence, and care. GIVE HERE through our giving page at psycharmor.org.

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Christopher D. Weedon, MBA, is the Founder and Executive Director of the Mentally Shredded Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing burnout and strengthening mental resilience through movement, reflection, conversation, and community. A former collegiate soccer captain who also competed at the semi-professional level, and a former strength and conditioning coach, Christopher created the Mentally Shredded 3-in-1 Method after navigating his own mental health challenges and recognizing the need for proactive, accessible wellness experiences. Since 2022, the organization has served more than 2,000 participants through live programs and reached more than 10,000 people through educational content and The Mentally Shredded Show podcast. Christopher is building a scalable model that equips organizations and communities to make mental wellness a regular practice rather than a crisis response.

Links Mentioned During the Episode

Mentally Shredded Website

Chris Weedon on Instagram

Mentally Shredded on Instagram

Chris Weedon on LinkedIn

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the PsychArmor Course Bolstering Resilience, part of the Brain Health and Wellness Learning Series. This mini-course series on resilience, sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project, spotlights five supporting factors proven to bolster resilience among service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers: SMART goals, mental health, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Each element builds upon a foundation of service and increases the ability to successfully cope with high levels of stress and pressure. You’ll learn why these supporting pillars are so important to overall well-being, their application in daily life, and how it’s never too late to make a lasting change.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/WWP-BHW-bolstering-resilience

 Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on X

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Marine Corps Veteran Chris Gonzalez, Co-Founder of A-G Associates, an organization that provides insight, expert guidance, and lived experience to strengthen public health and safety systems, advance military and veteran wellbeing, and help mission-driven organizations achieve measurable impact. We talk about their partnership with PsychArmor to support MCON Health, and their recently announced Fall In initiative. 

Episode Partner:

This episode is sponsored by CareLinx by Sharecare, connecting Veterans, Service Members, and military Families with trusted home care and caregiver support. 

Provide Support:

Take a moment to turn your gratitude into action. For just $15, you can help provide military culture training to one person who supports veterans and their families, equipping them to respond with greater understanding, confidence, and care. GIVE HERE through our giving page at psycharmor.org.

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Chris Gonzalez is President and Co-Founder of A-G Associates (A-G). Chris’ accolades range from entrepreneurial awards on the Inc, 5000 (Inc. Magazine) Vet100 (Institute for Veteran and Military Families) and Young Alumni Achievement Award (Frostburg State university) to Bridging the Gap Achievement Award by the Greater Baltimore Committee for philanthropic efforts. 

Under Chris’ leadership, A-G has grown into one of the fastest growing companies in the country, placing in the top 15% of the Inc. 5000 list (#592). A-G has made a significant contribution to the fields of mental health and substance use for military personnel, military families, veterans, behavioral health clinicians, peer support specialists and others. These events have led to the development of policy, resources and grant programs. 

A U.S. Marine and combat veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chris drives organizational and program transformation initiatives across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Chris is the Associate Producer of Bastards’ Road, a full-length film about a Marine Corps Veteran who conquers post-traumatic stress by walking across the country. He has also coached several fitness programs and served on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Health Care Access Maryland, Mentoring Mentors and American Warrior Festival/Strength in Numbers. 

Chris has been a keynote speaker at the Center for Naval Analyses, Mental Health America, Frostburg State University’s Sloop Leadership Institute, and the Project Management Institute. He is a certified Facilitator/ Trainer through the Marine Corps,  WholeScale Change™ facilitator and Project Management Professional (PMP). He is a graduate from Operation Hand Salute, an Executive Development program through John F. Kennedy University and AT&T. He received his BS in Social Science from Frostburg State University in 2001, and his Master of Arts in Education from Towson University.

Links Mentioned During the Episode

Links Mentioned During the Episode

A-G Associates

MCON Health

The Fall In Initiative

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the Behind the Mission podcast episode 223 of the Behind the Mission Podcast highlighting MCON. In this episode, we have a conversation with Marine Corps veteran Waco Hoover, an entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience in venture capital, M&A, entertainment, media and live events. We talk about MCON, an annual event that celebrates military culture and includes MCON Health conducted in partnership with PsychArmor.

You can find the resource here: 

https://psycharmor.org/podcast/waco-hoover-mcon

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on X

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

On today’s episode, we’re having a conversation with Navy Veteran Steve Kappes,  the 2026 board chair for the San Diego Military Advisory Council and one of the leaders of the San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program, a program that uses tennis as a means of rehabilitation for service members and veterans who've become wounded, ill, or injured.

Episode Partner:

This episode is sponsored by CareLinx by Sharecare, connecting Veterans, Service Members, and military Families with trusted home care and caregiver support. 

Provide Support

Take a moment to turn your gratitude into action. For just $15, you can help provide military culture training to one person who supports veterans and their families, equipping them to respond with greater understanding, confidence, and care. GIVE HERE through our giving page at psycharmor.org.

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Captain Steve Kappes, USN, Ret. served on active duty for 24 years and has volunteered in support of military members, veterans, and their families for more than 20 years.  As a cofounder and the Director of the San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program, he and his team have improved the quality of life for more than 1,500 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans through free weekly tennis clinics and annual tennis camps.  Run in collaboration with Naval Medical Center San Diego and VA Medical Center San Diego, this program has been recognized by members of Congress, the Department of the Defense, and the U.S. Tennis Association for its excellence and impact and serves as a national model.  Steve is also a Certified Nonprofit Professional, committed to supporting the community through military advocacy and health and wellness programs.  He has served in leadership roles on eight nonprofit boards including the San Diego Military Advisory Council where is the current Board Chair.

Links Mentioned During the Episode

San Diego Military Advisory Council

CBS8 Zevely Zone - San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program

San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program Website

 
PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the Behind the Mission podcast episode with SDMC CEO Rear Admiral (Retired) David Boone. During the conversation, we dive deeper into SDMAC, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of the service members, veterans, and their families in the greater San Diego region.

You can find the resource here: 

https://psycharmor.org/podcast/btm243-david-boone-san-diego-military-advisory-council

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on X

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

On today’s episode, we’re replaying a conversation with Michael Bailey, Deputy Director of Leadership Programs for the George W. Bush Institute. We talk about some of the initiatives of the Bush Institute, including the Veteran Leadership Program, the Democracy is a Verb initiative and the Bush Institute's efforts to celebrate America 250.

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Michael Bailey serves as Deputy Director, Leadership Programs, for the George W. Bush Institute. In this role, he manages the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, which focuses on developing the leadership skills of veterans and those who serve them and their families. Bailey also supports alumni engagement efforts for the Institute’s international leadership programs.

Prior to joining the George W. Bush Institute, Bailey provided operations, media, and communications support to The American Choral Directors Association, a music organization dedicated to the excellence and advancement of choral music.

Bailey is a native of Arlington, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice) from The University of Oklahoma, and he holds a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in finance and real estate from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. He has a passion for running and enjoys racing in half and full marathons.

Links Mentioned During the Episode

George W. Bush Institute

Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program

America 250

Democracy is a Verb initiative  

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s PsychArmor Resource of the Week is The PsychArmor course The Myths and Facts of Military Leaders. This course identifies four of the most popular myths about military leaders and how they don’t align with the reality of working alongside Veterans and Service members.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/The-Myths-and-Facts-of-Military-Leaders

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on X

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

 On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Army Veteran Ramon Salazar, Senior Manager of Learning and Experience Design for PsychArmor, as well as Executive Director for Warriors At Ease, an organization dedicated to empowering the military and veteran community with the tools and knowledge to harness the transformative power of yoga and meditation.

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Ramón Salazar is a US Army Veteran with a diverse background in education and wellness. Holding a Master's degree in Education and experience in instructional design, he currently serves as an instructor at the University of Arizona. As an E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher that has completed at leased 500 hours of advanced yoga teacher training and logged a minimum of 2,00 hours of teaching experience), Ramón brings a deep understanding of yoga practice, skillfully tailoring his approach to the specific needs of the military community. He incorporates trauma-informed techniques and mindful movement to foster healing and resilience. Ramón also holds various certifications in other wellness areas. His commitment to education and holistic well-being reflects his belief in yoga's power to positively impact individuals and communities.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

Ramon on PsychArmor

Warriors At Ease website

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is PsychArmor’s online course library, including many courses designed and led by Ramon. PsychArmor offers trusted, expert-led training for anyone who wants to better understand and support service members, Veterans, and their families.

Whether you're a health care provider, educator, employer, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to make a difference — these courses are designed for you.

You can find the resource here:

https://learn.psycharmor.org/collections

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on Twitter

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

 On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Licensed Clinical Social Worker Amanda Noyes, the founder of Finding Freedom Therapy and member of the DFW First Responders Support Network. We talk about Trauma therapy and mental health networks for service members, veterans and first responders 

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Amanda Noyes is the founder of Finding Freedom Therapy. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker–Supervisor with over 25 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work in numerous crisis situations where she witnessed firsthand the gravity of trauma and grief. It was in these situations that she realized there were not enough opportunities to heal from trauma and loss after the initial crisis. With this knowledge, she formed Finding Freedom Therapy, PLLC, in 2014 with the vision of providing specialized treatment to those who have endured (or are continuing to endure) horrific traumas and unspeakable losses.

After earning her degree in psychology and international studies from Texas A&M University, Amanda pursued her Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her career, she has had the unique opportunity to gain notable hands-on experience, much of which was working in conjunction with the military, first responders, and frontline workers. She has worked alongside probation and parole officers in the field, with police officers on-scene, supported doctors and nurses in the ED and ICU departments of level-one trauma centers, counseled families of the recently deceased at the moment of loss, and worked next to the U.S. National Guard when assisting during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Harvey.

Amanda's experience with veterans and military service members began early in her career with her graduate internship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Hospital, and later continued with her work as lead trauma therapist for an inpatient military program, Freedom Care, where she worked with active-duty combat military and veterans suffering from PTSD. She is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Each and every step of her career has shaped and strengthened her ability to better assist clients through the most difficult times in their lives.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

Finding Freedom Therapy Website

DFW First Responders Support Network

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Trauma Informed Interactions with Veterans. This course defines trauma and how it presents itself and is specifically designed to help volunteers interact with Veterans dealing with trauma that affects their health and/or ability to function.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/trauma-informed-interactions-with-veterans

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on Twitter

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

 On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Marine Veteran Luke Urick, the Executive Director of the Montana Vet Program, an organization that takes Veterans into the Montana wilderness to rediscover strength, purpose, and camaraderie through therapeutic adventure and conservation. 

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

LUKE URICK

Luke Urick is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and the Founder and Executive Director of the Montana Vet Program, where he has led transformative outdoor-based experiences for Veterans for the past nine years. Serving from 2003 to 2012 as a Scout Sniper, Mountain Leader, and Survival Instructor, Luke deployed in support of combat operations and earned numerous honors, including the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor and the Purple Heart. His military service shaped a lifelong commitment to resilience, leadership, and helping others navigate adversity.

After transitioning from the military, Luke earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Organizational Management, combining his understanding of human behavior with strong leadership expertise. Through the Montana Vet Program, he guides Veterans into the wilderness to rediscover purpose, strength, and camaraderie through shared challenge and therapeutic adventure. His work reflects a deep belief in the healing power of connection, nature, and service.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

Montana Vet Program Website

MVP Trips
PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the PsychArmor course Slowing Down and One Pointed Attention. In this course, Dr. Jill Borman discusses the tools that make mantram repetition more effective and useful: slowing down and one-pointed attention.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/slowing-down-and-one-pointed-attention

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on Twitter

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

 On today's episode, we’re having a conversation with Bill Birnie, a retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major, CEO of Frontwave Credit Union, and member of the PsychArmor Board of Directors. We have a great conversation about serving those who served, promoting financial stability, and brining his expertise in the financial sector to the board of PsychArmor. 

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Bill Birnie’s lifelong dedication to serving the military community, coupled with his extensive leadership and financial expertise, makes him an outstanding candidate for our PsychArmor Board. A 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Bill retired in 1997 as a Sergeant Major, having served in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm and Operation United Shield. His military career also included assignments as a Marine guard and detachment commander at U.S. Embassies worldwide, where he cultivated a deep understanding of service, leadership, and teamwork.

Transitioning from military service, Bill brought his strategic mindset to the credit union industry, where he has built a remarkable 26-year career. Currently, as President and CEO of Frontwave Credit Union, he leads a $1.4 billion institution dedicated to empowering military families and veterans. Bill’s leadership, understanding of financial systems, combined with his ability to create sustainable growth, aligns with our strategic needs, and will support our long-term vision.   

Bill has served on Boards that address the unique needs of military families and veterans, including as Chairman of the Defense Credit Union Council and Vice Chair of the Armed Forces Financial Network. His experience as a Western Credit Union Management School graduate and 15 years as a faculty member further underscores his ability to mentor and guide organizations toward financial and operational excellence. In his spare time, Bill enjoys golf, traveling and attending theater or concerts with family and friends.  

With his unparalleled military and leadership experience, Bill Birnie brings the expertise and insight to strengthen PsychArmor’s mission, ensuring it continues to create meaningful impact for the military and veteran community.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

Frontwave Credit Union Website

Frontwave Credit Union Military Resources

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the Preparing Your Finances for Transition.

In this course, service members, Veterans and their families will learn about some major financial considerations associated with transition, as well as five useful tips for preparing their finances.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Preparing-Your-Finances-for-Transition

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on Twitter

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

On today’s episode, talking with comedian Brad Bonar, founder of One Degree of Separation, an organization that uses stand-up comedy to spark honest conversations about depression and suicide prevention. We discuss his lived experience, breaking the silence with comedy, and turning their live shows into official training for service members, Veterans and their families

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Brad Bonar Jr. is the founder and creative force behind 1° of Separation. A seasoned stand-up comedian and magician by trade, Brad has spent nearly 30 years making people laugh around the world. He built a successful entertainment career headlining clubs and corporate shows, including a popular Dry Bar Comedy special that has garnered over 13 million online views. His comedy draws on everyday life and family, and is known for its clean yet keenly observant humor. But beneath the laughter, Brad quietly fought his own battles with depression since childhood.

A turning point came a few years ago when Brad discovered an old keepsake: “I found a suicide note that I wrote in the 6th grade,” he recalls. “At first I kinda laughed about it, but then it became very sobering.“ Realizing that he had been struggling in silence for decades, and seeing so many others still doing the same, Brad felt compelled to act. He channeled his talents and insider knowledge of comedy into a deeply personal mission: “I’ve spent the past 25 years traveling the world making people laugh. Now I’m using my talents for something more personal. It’s time to cast a spotlight that removes the stigma of mental illness.” With that, 1 Degree of Separation was born in 2019 as a project to fight depression with comedy.

Brad immersed himself in learning about mental health, interviewing doctors and therapists to shape a show that was both funny and responsible in its messaging. He crafted the Five Questions after hours of writing and self-reflection one night. And he recruited fellow comedians (including his wife, Victoria, and others) willing to share their stories on stage. As a performer, Brad has a disarming, warm presence. Audiences often don’t expect a comedian to talk about subjects like suicidal ideation, but Brad does so with authenticity and even hope. He frequently opens up about his own experiences – from that sixth-grade note, to a more recent mental health crisis that landed him in a 5150 psychiatric hold, to how “comedy saved me” when he learned to talk about his pain rather than hide it.

Today, Brad Bonar Jr. serves as CEO of 1° of Separation, Inc., leading the nonprofit’s growth while still touring as one of its headline speakers. Under his leadership, 1° of Separation has gained national attention for its innovative approach (featured on media from local news to podcasts and even military press.) Brad’s ability to wear two hats – entertainer and mental health advocate – makes him a unique voice in suicide prevention. He often says, “Laughter changes your brain” and indeed, he’s now leveraging laughter to change lives. Brad and his wife Victoria are based in Northern California, but travel constantly for training. When not on the road, he continues to perform traditional comedy and magic shows and is at work on a book about his journey and the intersection of comedy and mental health. In recognition of his efforts, Brad was invited to present at the Department of Defense/VA Suicide Prevention Conference in 2023, where 1° of Separation received a standing ovation from 2,500 professionals. Brad’s personal mantra: “Comedy is universal… and if we can laugh at this, we can talk about it," encapsulates the spirit he brings to the cause. He proves that a comedian can change the world, one punchline and one life at a time.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

1° of Separation website

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Supporting a Veteran in Crisis. This course is designed for businesses to educate them on the differences between their Veteran and civilian employees and ways to support them.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/supporting-a-veteran-in-crisis

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media 

Email PsychArmor

PsychArmor on Twitter

PsychArmor on Facebook

PsychArmor on YouTube

PsychArmor on LinkedIn

PsychArmor on Instagram

Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Show Summary

On today’s episode, we’re replaying a conversation with conversation with playwright and producer Elizabeth Coplan, founder of the Greif Dialogues, a nonprofit theatrical movement that facilitates conversations about dying, death, and grief. We talk about her own connection to service and discuss how Grief Dialogues has developed a specific immersive experience of remembrance and reflection ahead of Memorial Day

Provide Feedback

As a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you. If you PsychArmor has helped you learn, grow, and support those who’ve served and those who care for them, we would appreciate hearing your story. Please follow this link to share how PsychArmor has helped you in your service journey Share PsychArmor Stories

About Today’s Guest

Elizabeth Coplan is a veteran of marketing and public relations with over four decades of experience. She began her professional journey as an aspiring actor in New York City in 1972 before pivoting to publishing, eventually becoming the managing editor of Chief Executive Magazine. After relocating to California, she climbed the ranks at Collins Foods International, ultimately serving as Director of Corporate Communications.

In Seattle, Elizabeth became a trailblazer in professional services marketing, notably serving as the first Northwest marketing director for Touché Ross (now Deloitte). She later became Director of Client Service and Development at Davis Wright Tremaine, where she helped grow the firm from three to ten offices and pioneered strategic sponsorships in the legal sector. After six years, she launched her own consulting firm, advising major clients including Merrill Lynch and the University of Washington School of Law.

Her service on nonprofit boards includes the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and the Intiman Theatre, where she chaired strategic planning. In 2013, after a series of personal losses, Elizabeth began writing to process her grief. This led to the creation of Grief Dialogues, a groundbreaking play and nonprofit initiative that fosters dialogue about death and grief through theatre.

Her award-winning works include Hospice: A Love Story, Untold, The Choice, and Honoring Choices, the latter adapted into a film that premiered in Los Angeles and earned multiple festival awards. She also directed and produced Juntos Nos Ayudamos, a film addressing suicide in a Hispanic family, and co-hosts the podcast Out of Grief Comes Art.

Elizabeth's writing appears in professional grief therapy publications, and her full-length play ’Til Death premiered Off-Broadway in 2023 with an acclaimed cast. She is currently working on The Book Club, a new play exploring the lives of senior women.

Links Mentioned in this Episode 

Grief Dialogues Website

My Guardian Angel Movie

PsychArmor Resource of the Week

This week’s resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Good Grief. Grief is not only experienced with death, it can also occur with job loss or severe changes to physical well-being. The purpose of this course is to recognize loss and identify what is learned as a result of that loss.

You can find the resource here: 

https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/good-grief

Episode Partner:

Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities

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Theme Music

Our theme music Don’t Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.

Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com