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The Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 655: Keith Godwin: Recovery Through Laughter (Part 3) | HMTC

Keith Godwin was not expected to survive after his car overturned and caught fire in 2000. He lost several fingers, battled depression, and continued struggling with alcohol and drugs. Four years later, he entered recovery and began rebuilding his life one decision at a time.

In Part 3 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli concludes his conversation with United States Marine Corps veteran Keith Godwin. Keith reflects on more than 22 years of sobriety and the life-changing support he received from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including treatment, education, vocational rehabilitation, and a prosthetic hand.

After returning to school, Keith became a counselor and spent two decades helping veterans confront addiction, trauma, and personal struggles. He describes the powerful bond created when veterans share not only their pain, but also laughter, friendship, and hope.

The conversation also explores Keith’s career in comedy, from opening for Gilbert Gottfried and working with comedians Rich Vos and Tim Dillon to co-founding Comedy to Go. Through shows supporting veterans, first responders, recovery groups, and charitable causes, Keith discovered that laughter could become both a bridge and a form of healing.

Keith’s message to his son, fellow veterans, and anyone struggling with the past is simple: acknowledge your mistakes, accept responsibility, and do the next right thing. His journey proves that recovery is possible, laughter can restore quality of life, and surviving can become truly living.

The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Keith Godwin

Executive Producer and Director: Bernie Furshpan

A production of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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─── CHAPTERS ───

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Welcome and Part 2 recap
0:40 Living instead of merely existing
1:08 The fiery car crash that nearly took Keith’s life
1:54 Helping veterans through shared experience
2:39 More than 22 years clean and sober
2:50 How the VA helped Keith rebuild his life
3:25 Returning to the Northport VA
3:53 Humor therapy and veteran camaraderie
4:51 Finding confidence through comedy
5:08 Creating Comedy to Go
5:55 Performing with Rich Vos and Tim Dillon
6:39 The intelligence behind great comedy
7:14 Long Island’s legendary comedians
8:28 Connecting with veterans through shared humor
9:30 Opening for Gilbert Gottfried
10:07 Turning personal struggles into comedy
10:42 The healing power of laughter
11:05 Military comedy and Robin Williams
12:13 Producing comedy and helping others
13:22 Teaching his son to do the next right thing
14:02 How laughter transformed Keith’s life
14:28 Closing reflections
15:11 hmTv outro

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