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Truth telling shouldn’t cost you your career, your health, or your future. Yet too many people who report fraud, harassment, or ethical violations face a second wave of harm: quiet retaliation that isolates, undermines, and erodes trust. We sit down with Dr. Jackie Garrick—Army social worker, Pentagon policy leader, and founder of Whistleblowers of America—to unpack what moral injury looks like in everyday workplaces and how to navigate it without going alone.

Jackie breaks down the nine tactics organizations use to silence complaints—gaslighting, mobbing, shunning, double binds, blacklisting, and more—and shows why subtle moves in meetings or reassignments can be as damaging as formal discipline. We talk frankly about mixed messages from leadership, the risks tied to mental health labels and security clearances, and how “handle it privately” advice can make reporting unsafe when power is uneven. You’ll hear concrete strategies for employees thinking about speaking up: how to document evidence, when to seek legal or NGO help, how to use IGs for advice, and when anonymous or confidential routes make sense.

Leaders aren’t off the hook. We share a blueprint for responding after an IG complaint: partner with the reporter, ensure safety, use trained independent investigators, and communicate clearly to avoid turning concerns into open warfare. We also tackle the long timelines of investigations, why they stall, and how to protect your well‑being through the wait with peer support and realistic expectations. If you care about ethics, psychological safety, and real accountability—across government, healthcare, or tech—this conversation offers tools you can use today.

Subscribe for more candid, practical conversations on moral injury, whistleblowing, and culture change. Share this episode with a colleague who needs backup, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway or question—we read every one. Go to https://www.whistleblowersofamerica.org/ for more information about Jackie's organization and to get help. 

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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When your life gets bigger, the inner critic often gets louder. We sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Fulgaro—award-winning author, songwriter, and financial coach—to explore how song-driven prayer and simple journaling can transform self-talk, rebuild resilience, and heal the hidden wounds that surface under pressure. Her journey from lifelong self-hatred to self-acceptance and then self-love is disarmingly honest, practical, and grounded in research with women veterans.

We unpack a 28-day practice that pairs curated “song prayers” with a quick daily check-in to track mood before and after listening. The results? Every participant experienced measurable improvements in resilience and well-being. Dr. Fulgaro breaks down why: music reaches the emotional brain, lyrics that speak directly to God reinforce being known, belonging, and purpose, and neuroplasticity does the rest. We go deeper than clichés, confronting the gap between performative spirituality and the hard, hopeful work of loving God, loving others, and loving yourself—without losing your voice or your boundaries.

Expect clear next steps: how to choose the right album by intuition, protect focus with ad-free listening, and use Companion Journals to guide a simple rhythm—select, reflect, listen, reflect, repeat. We also cover playlists for grief, anxiety, courage, and winding down at day’s end, plus why journaling unlocks stuck thoughts and anchors a new identity over time. If you’re ready to replace shame with dignity and move from coping to healing, this conversation gives you a map and the tools to start today.

Learn more about Elizabeth's work and how you can her materials at: https://www.elizabethfulgaro.com/.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find these resources.

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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The hardest wounds to name are the ones that whisper you’re not good. We sit down with a VA chaplain, Army veteran, and moral health scholar to explore moral injury as a shame-rooted fracture of identity—not just a cluster of symptoms. Together we draw a clear line between fear-based PTSD and the moral injuries that follow betrayal, military sexual trauma, and violations of conscience, and we examine why the path to repair runs through truth, presence, and belonging.

We dig into a four-part model of moral health—belief, identity, integrity, responsibility—and show how trauma can collapse trust, autonomy, and competence until isolation takes over. From the debate around DSM recognition and compensation to the reality that loneliness is a massive suicide risk factor, we challenge systems that only pay for diagnoses while missing the person. The conversation turns practical: how to create spaces where survivors can be believed without pressure, how moral truth-telling restores voice, and why clinicians and chaplains should be trained to see the ethical dimension of trauma.

We also step outside. The chaplain shares insights from Healing in the Wild, where nature becomes a clinic without walls. No checklists, no judgment—just presence that helps people shift from performance to awareness so the nervous system can settle and the story can be told honestly. For women veterans, caregivers, and anyone living in the aftermath of moral harm, this episode offers language, tools, and hope: healing isn’t forgetting; it’s remembering differently in community. If moral injury has touched your life or your work, you’ll leave with a deeper map and immediate steps to support moral repair.

If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us what moral health means to you.

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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What happens when the warrior returns home? When the sense of purpose that fueled their mission suddenly evaporates? Anthony Dyer's powerful journey from combat aviator to author reveals the silent battles that continue long after the gunfire ceases.

Growing up in the rugged Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Anthony carried that spirit of resilience into an extraordinary career as a Combat Special Missions Aviator in the U.S. Air Force. Over more than a decade, he flew 200+ combat missions and accumulated 2,700 flight hours across multiple aircraft, from AC-130 gunships to Pave Hawk rescue helicopters. His exceptional courage earned him the Air Force's Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year in 2018.

But the weight of war followed him home. Anthony candidly shares the traumatic rescue mission in East Africa that haunts him still—a mission where everything went wrong from the start, yet they managed to save five lives while losing one American soldier. "It's not what you do in life that haunts you, it's what you don't do," he reflects, articulating the burden carried by so many veterans.

As retirement approached after two decades of service, Anthony faced a profound identity crisis. His sense of purpose—ensuring operators returned home safely—was disappearing. This void, combined with unprocessed trauma, spiraled into alcoholism and depression until his wife delivered an ultimatum that became his lifeline. Through Military Family Life Counselors, prolonged exposure therapy, and medication, Anthony gradually found his way back to himself.

His memoir "Moonchild: The Roots and Wings of a Combat Special Missions Aviator" emerged from this healing journey—not just as personal catharsis but as a beacon for others navigating similar darkness. Anthony's story demonstrates that recovery isn't instantaneous, often requiring many therapy sessions before improvement becomes noticeable. It shows the critical importance of support systems and professional help, even when skepticism initially prevails.

Anthony's message transcends military experience: "Life circumstances can make you bitter or better. The choice is yours." Through vulnerability, professional help, and a willingness to confront difficult emotions, transformation becomes possible—not just healing, but renewed purpose. Listen and discover how even the deepest wounds can become the place where light enters.

Links to his book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moon-child-anthony-dyer/1147103074 and https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Child-Special-Missions-Aviator/dp/B0DZMXBHJ4

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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The invisible wounds of military service don't just affect the service member—they ripple through the entire family system. Dr. Marg Rogers pulls back the curtain on this often-overlooked reality, sharing powerful insights from her work developing research-based resources for families affected by moral injury and service-related trauma.

Drawing from personal experience watching her uncle struggle after Vietnam, Dr. Rogers explains how moral injury manifests in family dynamics. Parents experiencing moral injury often withdraw emotionally, not from lack of love, but from feelings of unworthiness or fear of "contaminating" their children. This withdrawal leaves children confused, sometimes blaming themselves for a parent's emotional distance. "It's a bit like having a garden," she explains. "Something really terrible happens at one end of the garden, and it can't not affect the other end."

The conversation explores how military and first responder families face unique challenges that compound these difficulties—frequent relocations disrupting support networks, career sacrifices by spouses, and children navigating educational instability. Despite these profound needs, families often fall through the cracks of support systems primarily focused on the service member.

In response, Dr. Rogers and her international team have created the Child and Family Resilience Programs—a remarkable collection of free, co-created resources including bibliotherapy storybooks and educational modules. These materials help children understand what's happening in their families and provide adults with tools to support them. The feedback has been transformative: "These are families I've worked with for so long, and nothing has hit them so hard and so honestly as that book did. It's a game changer for understanding."

Whether you're a service member, family member, educator, or support professional, this conversation offers invaluable perspectives on supporting the youngest casualties of service-related trauma—the children who never signed up for these challenges but live with them every day.

Check out the Child and Family Resilience Programs website to access these free resources and see how they might support the military and first responder families in your life: https://ecdefenceprograms.com/index.php/media-releases/. For more information, Dr. Rogers can be reached at:

Email: [email protected]. 

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

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When Jenna Carlton left the Navy in 2017 after serving as an aerographer's mate, she faced a question that would fuel her mission: "Where are all the younger veterans?" This powerful conversation reveals how she's addressing that gap through community building and targeted resources.

Fresh from her military experience, Jenna shares candidly about the realities women face in service—sexualization, harassment, and the personality shifts many adopt for self-protection. Her journey took her to Capitol Hill, where she hoped to influence veteran policy, only to discover that grassroots community building would be her most effective path forward. Now running the Millennial Veterans Facebook group and the South Jersey Women Veterans Group, she creates safe spaces where veterans can discuss benefits, mental health, relationships, and the complex transition to civilian identity.

Perhaps most striking is Jenna's insight into why younger veterans—particularly women—aren't accessing available resources. Despite significant improvements in VA services, veterans under 30 remain largely absent from these systems. Many don't feel entitled to benefits if they served shorter terms or didn't deploy, while others have internalized negative perceptions about VA care. This disengagement is especially concerning considering veterans aged 18-35 have the highest suicide rates among all veteran age groups.

Through her Veteran Workbook, Jenna provides a practical tool for processing military experiences and rebuilding civilian identity. The workbook asks questions that civilians wouldn't think to ask, helping veterans articulate their needs and experiences while planning for meaningful futures beyond service.

Ready to connect with resources tailored for younger veterans? Follow Jenna on Instagram @themillennialveteran, http://facebook.com/groups/themillennialveterans,  or find her Veteran Workbook on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Veteran-Workbook-Jenna-Carlton/dp/B0C6W1GB96 to start your journey toward post-military wellness and community.

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

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What happens when your personal values collide with the organization you're expected to serve? For military women, this clash often leads to a profound sense of moral injury that can impact every aspect of life. 

Shelly Rood brings a refreshingly candid perspective to this challenging reality. As a former military intelligence officer who now coaches high-achieving leaders, she shares powerful insights about navigating the tension between excellence and authenticity. The conversation takes us beyond typical military discussions into the raw, human experience of feeling perpetually at odds with systemic expectations.

"When I watched Cinderella," Shelly reveals, "I wasn't identifying with the princess waiting to be rescued—I was the little mouse making things happen." This telling observation illuminates the fundamental disconnect many service women experience when their natural leadership tendencies clash with traditional gender expectations both within and outside the military structure.

Dr. Roberts and Shelly discuss the false dichotomies that plague military culture—the myth that compassionate leadership somehow compromises combat readiness, or that family support inherently conflicts with operational demands. Their conversation explores how these artificial divisions particularly impact women who are navigating dual identities as leaders and caregivers.

The statistics are sobering: the average female veteran is 46 years old, and more than half are single. Traditional support systems rarely address their unique needs, leaving many to create their own networks from scratch. Through her work with Others Over Self and Woman Veteran Strong, Shelly is building those crucial communities where authentic conversations can flourish.

Whether you're a current service member, veteran, or simply interested in authentic leadership, this episode offers valuable perspective on how to maintain your core values while operating in challenging environments. Discover why Shelly believes we need to strip away gender from these conversations and focus instead on our shared humanity—creating space for genuine connection and growth.

Learn more about Shelly and her organization at: 

https://missionambition.org

https://othersoverself.com/

https://othersoverself.com/woman-veteran-strong/

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

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Moral injury remains one of the most misunderstood challenges facing women veterans today. When actions during military service violate one's deeply held moral beliefs, the resulting invisible wounds can devastate lives long after uniforms are hung up. Unlike PTSD, moral injury hides beneath the surface—characterized by shame, guilt, and internal conflict rather than outward distress.

Dr. Daniel Roberts, president of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen Inc., takes listeners through an illuminating exploration of how to recognize these hidden wounds. Drawing from his upcoming book "Moral Injury: A Guidebook for Women Veterans," he outlines the subtle yet profound indicators that something isn't right: social withdrawal that happens gradually, decreased work performance when once-driven servicewomen can no longer concentrate, sleep disturbances that range from insomnia to vivid nightmares, and spiritual distress that shatters previously held beliefs about justice and meaning.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is its comprehensive approach to identification. Beyond examining behavioral changes like substance abuse and anger issues, Dr. Roberts delves into the emotional landscape of moral injury—where women veterans might experience overwhelming guilt, profound loss of meaning, or betrayal that fundamentally alters how they view themselves and the world. The physical manifestations, from chronic pain to appetite disturbances, illuminate how deeply moral injury affects the entire person. For women veterans struggling with unexplained feelings of unworthiness or those who work with them, this episode offers critical insights and a path forward through understanding. Listen, share, and reach out for your free copy of the guidebook to begin the journey toward healing these profound wounds.

Women veterans can receive a free copy of the book by emailing Dr. Roberts at [email protected]. 

Support the show

Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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Lieutenant Colonel Alea Nadeem's story begins with trauma that would break many people – kidnapped at age eight by her own father and taken from the United States to Iraq for nearly four years. Born to an American Catholic mother and Iraqi Muslim father, cultural and religious tensions tore her family apart when her father took the family on what was supposed to be a visit to Iraq. When it came time to leave, he forced her mother to choose which daughter to take back to America, leaving young Alea behind.

This profound childhood betrayal left Alea with deep abandonment issues that continue to surface in her relationships today. She describes becoming "hyper-independent" as a protective measure – struggling to ask for help, reluctant to depend on others, and being devastated when someone fails to follow through on promised assistance. Yet rather than allowing this trauma to define her, Aaliyah transformed it into remarkable resilience.

"I've never had a harder day in my life since being kidnapped," she reflects, explaining how this perspective helps her face new challenges with confidence. After returning to America and overcoming cultural readjustment struggles, Alea joined the Air Force, rising through the ranks from enlisted to officer, ultimately becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander.

Her proudest professional achievement came from recognizing a seemingly small but significant issue affecting servicewomen – outdated hair policies causing physical harm. Using her intelligence training, she gathered data proving these policies were founded not on operational necessity but on outdated cultural attitudes from the 1940s. Despite facing five years of rejection, she persisted respectfully through the chain of command until reaching success – changing not only Air Force policy but influencing similar changes across other military branches and even internationally.

Now Alea has set her sights on a new mission: running for Congress in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Focusing on manufacturing revival, combating the opioid crisis, and advocating for servicewomen's equipment needs, she hopes to bring her military leadership experience and problem-solving approach to government. Throughout her remarkable journey, her measure of success remains not positions or accomplishments but character – how she treats others and what kind of difference she makes in their lives.

Want to learn more or support her campaign? Visit https://aleaforcongress.com or find her on social media platforms.

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Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

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Have you ever wondered what happens when your entire world changes in an instant? When the person you thought you were suddenly doesn't exist anymore? Kijuan Amey's powerful story answers these questions with unflinching honesty and remarkable hope.

After ten years in the Air Force as an in-flight refueling specialist, Kijuan's life trajectory changed forever when a motorcycle accident claimed his eyesight in 2017. Waking up in darkness, he faced the devastating reality that his military career, independence, and future plans had vanished overnight. "I went from being this super independent 25-year-old to now being this crazily dependent 25-year-old," Kijuan reflects, describing the depression and suicidal thoughts that followed.

Yet amidst this profound loss, Kijuan discovered something remarkable – while he had lost his physical sight, his vision remained intact. "Before and after my accident, I was always looking to help others," he explains. This fundamental purpose became his anchor through rehabilitation, learning to navigate life as a blind person, and eventually founding Amey Motivation LLC to inspire others facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Kijuan's journey teaches us about resilience in its purest form. From learning to use assistive technologies to mastering everyday skills again, each small victory became cause for celebration. "I wasn't able to do that last week, and now I am," became the mantra that pulled him from despair toward purpose. His approach crystallized into what he calls "the Will to Overcome" – Win In Life's Lessons – extracting value from every experience, no matter how painful.

This conversation isn't just about blindness or disability – it's about the universal human experience of facing unexpected devastation and choosing to move forward anyway. As Kijuan reminds us, "Every situation in life teaches you a lesson." His upcoming book "Don't Focus on Why Me" expands on this philosophy, rejecting victimhood in favor of growth and possibility.

Ready to transform your perspective on life's challenges? Visit ameymotivation.com to connect with Kiwan, book him as a speaker, or explore his teachings on resilience, adaptability, and finding purpose through pain.

Support the show

Help Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc. provide the support it needs to women veterans by donating to our cause at: https://misns.org/donation or send a check or money order to Moral Injury Support Network, 136 Sunset Drive, Robbins, NC 27325. Every amount helps and we are so grateful for your loving support. Thanks!

Follow us on your favorite social channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moral-injury-support-network-for-servicewomen/

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