Beyond The Frontline

What happens when a Special Forces commando survives six years of combat, but realizes the hardest battle is learning how to rest?

In this episode, host Donna Hoffmeyer sits down with Tim Thomas—retired Australian Special Forces commando, mental health advocate, and founder of the Breathworks in Bed app. Tim opens up about his unconventional path into elite military selection at age 30, the invisible toll of undiagnosed PTSD, and the breakthrough in a psychologist's office that sparked a global mission to help others heal.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• The Civilian to Commando Path: Entering Special Forces selection at 30 and facing the gut-wrenching choice to miss his child's birth to keep his spot.
• The Identity Paradox: Why suppressing individual identity—the military's greatest tactical strength—becomes a veteran's heaviest burden during transition.
• The Pyramid of Performance: Why high-achievers constantly ignore the true foundation of success: rest, recovery, and deep healing.
• Breathwork in the Dirt: How Tim discovered nervous system regulation while deployed in Afghanistan by focusing on his left thumb.
• Pulling "Stress Weeds": Understanding why your disempowered self actively resists positive change, and how the Breathworks in Bed app helps you win the first five minutes of your day.

🔥 Key Takeaway:

"You might not think you're special, but I bet you've been through some shit—and our job is not to stay in the shit, it's to turn it into fertilizer." — Tim Thomas

Get the App: Breathworks in Bed

If this conversation resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and share this episode with a veteran, first responder, or family member who needs to hear it today.

Host Donna sits down with Michael Dermer, founder of The Lonely Entrepreneur and IncentOne, to explore the powerful, surprising overlap between the entrepreneurial journey and the lives of the veterans and first responders.

Michael shares his raw path from corporate M&A lawyer to pioneering the health rewards industry, surviving the devastating 2008 financial crisis, and ultimately building a movement to ensure no entrepreneur has to struggle in isolation.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• The Lonely Entrepreneur Platform: Visit the Website to explore over 2,500 on-demand learning modules, tools, templates, and community support.
• The Veterans Initiative: Claim your free access license or learn how to support the mission at TLEfoundation.org/VEI.
• Weekly Open Coaching: Join the free weekly CEO Call for open mentorship and group coaching.
• Connect with Michael Dermer: Follow Michael's insights and journey on LinkedIn.
• Featured Book: The Lonely Entrepreneur by Michael Dermer (Be sure to check out the Applebee's story!)
• Upcoming Release: Keep an eye out for The Entrepreneur's Survival Guide—a tactical blueprint on how to adapt and thrive in a world driven by AI.

What happens when the damage to your brain isn't visible on a standard MRI, but it’s destroying your life?

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On this episode of Beyond the Frontline, Donna talks with Will Person, a former 9-year Team USA bobsled athlete turned advocate. Will’s story is a wake-up call for anyone in the high-impact world—from elite athletes to military veterans and domestic violence survivors.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Sled Head" Reality: Will discusses the extreme G-forces (up to 84.5 Gs!) and the crashes that led to a wave of suicides, strokes, and Parkinson’s among his teammates.
• The Invisible Injury: Why symptoms of CTE and TBI often don't surface until a decade after the trauma, and why talk therapy isn't enough when the brain is physically damaged.
• The Military Parallel: The striking similarities between bobsledders and artillery units—soldiers who may never see a "combat zone" but return with severe TBI symptoms from repeated blast exposure.
• A Path to Healing: How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and advanced imaging changed Will’s life, and his mission to make this treatment 100% free for those who need it most.

Resources & Support:

🔗 Learn More: TreatNow.org – Advocacy for veteran access to HBOT. 🔗 Follow Will: TikTok @OneManWithTheChamber for CTE and treatment insights. 🔗 Donate: Support the mission to provide free HBOT at Will’s GoFundMe .

In this episode, host Donna sits down with Ben Higginbotham, a Marine Corps veteran and Director of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Military Veterans Program. Ben shares his journey from the infantry to leading a nationwide initiative that connects transitioning service members with high-paying careers in the trades.

Episode Highlights:

• The Power of the Union: Breaking down what the UBC actually is and the benefits—including full medical, pensions, and no-cost training.
• The UBC MVP Program: A deep dive into the 8-week, fully paid SkillBridge program for Carpenters, Millwrights, and Pile Drivers.
• Transition Realities: Why starting at the bottom is often the fastest path to the top and how financial stability directly impacts veteran mental health.
• Soft Skills vs. Passion: Why your military discipline is your greatest asset, even if you’re starting a completely new craft.

Connect with Ben & UBC MVP:

• Website: ubcmvp.org
• LinkedIn: Ben Higginbotham

In the conclusion of this powerful two-part series, Donna continues her conversation with Marine Corps veteran and tech executive Tony Crescenzo. After discussing the discovery of neuro-acoustic technology in Part 1, Tony dives deeper into the mechanics of healing the "invisible wounds" of service.

This episode explores the intersection of AI, neuroscience, and human performance, moving beyond traditional talk therapy to examine how regulating brainwave oscillations can provide a path home for veterans and first responders living in a state of constant hypervigilance.

Resources Mentioned

• Peak Neuro LLC – Visit Website
• Intelligent Waves LLC
• Semper Fi & America’s Fund
• The Ross Institute (Dr. Colin Ross)
• Beyond the Frontline Archive: * Psychedelic Medicine with Charlie Powell
• Epigenetics with Bonnie Goff

"You are not responsible for your trauma, but you are responsible for your healing."

In this episode, host Donna sits down with Tony Crescenzo, Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Intelligent Wave LLC, to discuss a revolutionary approach to trauma recovery. After decades of battling undiagnosed PTSD and high-functioning anxiety, Tony made an accidental discovery: a declassified 1983 DIA document on neurophysiological entrainment.

We dive into how neuro acoustic modulation and brainwave science are providing a path to recovery that doesn't require "talking it out."

Inside This Episode:

• Beyond Talk Therapy: Why reliving trauma can sometimes do more harm than good and how somatic healing offers a different way forward.
• The "Brain Flush": How the glymphatic system cleanses the brain during deep sleep to prevent cognitive decline.
• Neuro Acoustic Modulation: The science of Delta, Theta, and Alpha waves in resetting a hypervigilant nervous system.
• Generational Healing: How addressing your trauma today changes the genetic legacy you leave for your children through epigenetics.
• Performance Optimization: Improving executive function, sleep, and even physical reaction times.

Featured Resources:

• Peak Neuro LLC & Intelligent Wave LLC
• Semper Fi Fund
• 1983 DIA Document on Neurophysiological Entrainment

Note: Be an advocate for your own health. Healing is a journey of exploration—be willing to try new modalities to find what works for you.

In this episode, we sit down with Patrice Cook, a US Army 25-year veteran and the first female Ride of Pride driver. From navigating 16-gear manuals in Iraq to leading a dedicated fleet at Schneider, Patrice shares how she turned her military MOS into a trailblazing civilian career.

Episode Highlights

• The Transition: Moving from military convoys to DOT regulations and why veterans crave structure in the civilian workforce.
• Schneider’s Apprenticeship: How veterans can use their GI Bill benefits for up to 10 years post-service while driving.
• Ride of Pride: The story behind the "rolling memorials." Patrice discusses driving "Fidelity" and the emotional impact of visiting veteran organizations nationwide.

Upcoming Event: Brothers After War

Join us for a documentary screening and truck viewing!

• Date: March 21, 2026
• Location: Santikos Theater (I-35 North), San Antonio, TX
• Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Truck viewing at 10:45 AM)
• Featuring: Two Ride of Pride trucks, "Fidelity" and "Eagle."

How can veterans turn military discipline into business ownership?

In this episode, Donna sits down with Giuseppe Grammatico, a franchise veteran, coach, and author of Franchise Freedom. While Giuseppe didn't serve in the military, his career transition from Wall Street to franchise ownership taught him a vital lesson: success isn’t about technical expertise—it’s about following a proven system.

Giuseppe shares why 1 in 5 franchise owners are veterans and how the "soft skills" learned in the service—leadership, quick decision-making, and team management—are the exact ingredients needed to scale a successful business.

Resources Mentioned:

• Website: ggthefranchiseguide.com (Book a free 20-minute consultation)
• Book: Franchise Freedom by Giuseppe Grammatico (A 30-minute essential read)
• Podcast: Franchise Freedom

In this powerful episode, host Donna sits down with award-winning filmmaker Jake Rademacher to discuss his 21-year journey documenting his brothers’ military service. From the front lines of Iraq to the complex landscape of veteran reintegration, Jake shares how his films, Brothers at War and Brothers After War, evolved into a global movement of healing.

With over 60,000 veterans and family members impacted by his workshops, Jake provides a raw, honest look at the cost of service and the responsibility of healing.

Gemini said

Beyond the Front Line: Jake Rademacher – Brothers at War & Brothers After War

In this powerful episode, host Donna sits down with award-winning filmmaker Jake Rademacher to discuss his 21-year journey documenting his brothers’ military service. From the front lines of Iraq to the complex landscape of veteran reintegration, Jake shares how his films, Brothers at War and Brothers After War, evolved into a global movement of healing.

With over 60,000 veterans and family members impacted by his workshops, Jake provides a raw, honest look at the cost of service and the responsibility of healing.

🎙️ Guest Bio: Jake Rademacher

Jake Rademacher is the founder of Metanoia Films and Perseverance Productions. A graduate of Notre Dame and Trinity College, Dublin, Jake is a member of the Director’s Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. His work has earned him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and the title of honorary colonel in the Oklahoma National Guard.

🔑 Key Topics Discussed

The Origin Story: From Actor to War Documentarian

• The Inspiration: How his grandfather’s WWII service planted the seeds.
• The Catalyst: Realizing "the truth wasn't making it out of Iraq" when his brothers returned from Fallujah.
• The Risk: Jake self-funded his first documentary while working as an actor to embed with the 82nd Airborne in 2005.

Unprecedented Access

• The SKIF: Gaining access to film in classified intelligence facilities.
• The Sunni Triangle: Filming during the most dangerous period of the war.
• The Bond: Building trust through his brother Isaac’s leadership to capture 43 combat veteran interviews.

Brothers After War (2019–2022)

• The Follow-up: Checking back in with 10 veterans from the original film.
• The Revelation: Isaac’s honest discussion regarding suicide ideation and the impact of nine deployments.
• The Toll: Exploring how service affects not just the soldier, but the entire family unit.

The Workshop & Healing

• Partnership: Working with the Gary Sinise Foundation to reach over 60,000 participants.
• Ancient Techniques: Using journaling as a "warrior technique" to process trauma.
• Therapy Truths: Understanding why 50% of therapists may not be the right fit and the difference between PTSD and moral injury.

💬 Powerful Quotes

"You're not responsible for the trauma you incurred, but you are responsible for the healing."

"I didn't expect that military couples would come up and say, 'After seeing the film, we just had our first real conversation about his or her experience overseas.'"

"30% of our community are going to be at risk for suicide at some point. With that kind of number, there can't be a stigma around it."

📋 Resources & Seminars

If you are a veteran, active-duty member, first responder, or a family member, these resources are for you.

Watch the Films

• Amazon Prime: Brothers at War & Brothers After War
• iTunes: Brothers After War
• Physical Media: DVDs available at Walmart and Amazon

Attend a Free 4-Hour Seminar

Includes a film screening, journaling session, and group discussion.

• Website: BrothersAfterWar.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Follow: Facebook and Instagram for upcoming tour dates.

Host Donna Hoffmeyer talks with Dana and Luke Stricevic, founders of Crux Wilderness, a nonprofit using rock climbing to support veterans and active-duty service members transitioning to civilian life. Luke, a Marine Corps veteran, shares how climbing gave him purpose and structure after leaving the military, and how that personal experience became a mission to serve others.

They explore the strong parallels between military service and climbing, the simple philosophy behind Crux Wilderness, and how their free clinics help veterans build calm, confidence, and community—one climb at a time.

In this episode:

• Rock climbing as a therapeutic, sustainable tool for transition
• Free veteran climbing clinics in San Diego, Joshua Tree, and Inyo National Forest
• Family days, alpine trips, and advanced climbing clinics
• Building community without pressure or obligation

Learn more at Crux Wilderness and discover how climbing can go beyond the frontline.