In Episode 5 of Both Sides of the Badge, Garrett sits down in person with longtime friend and fellow public servant Molly Lewis, whose life journey spans military service in Iraq, years in law enforcement, and now a career in nursing.

Molly opens up about her deployment as a military police officer, the intensity of day-to-day life in a combat zone, and the devastating loss of a fellow soldier only 30 days before returning home. She shares how living at a constant state of alert—“an 11 out of 10”—reshaped her emotionally, mentally, and physically long after leaving Iraq.

From the battlefield to the streets back home, Molly describes how combat trauma carried into policing, influencing how she saw people, threats, and the world around her. She speaks candidly about anger, grief, and the slow realization that trauma doesn’t disappear just because the uniform changes.

Now working as a nurse, Molly reflects on service in a new form—one centered on compassion, connection, and understanding the human struggles behind every call, every patient, every moment. She highlights the importance of empathy across professions and communities, emphasizing that everyone carries unseen stories and unspoken burdens.

This conversation is raw, grounded, and deeply personal—an honest look at what it means to serve, survive, and find a new path forward.

🎧 A must-listen episode for anyone seeking to understand the real human experiences behind the badge, behind the uniform, and behind the trauma.

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