(not so) Average Jane: Her Story

What happens when two “OG battle buddies” reunite after 20 years to unpack war, womanhood, and the work of healing? In this powerful conversation, host Dallas Knight sits down with Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Brooke Brittain—Army Military Police, two-time Iraq veteran, basketball coach, and doctoral candidate—to explore the highs, lows, and unexpected left turns of a life spent in service.

Brooke takes us from enlisting pre-9/11 and rolling into the 2003 invasion of Iraq on an un-armored Humvee , to confronting survivor’s guilt after losing comrades during her 2009 deployment . She opens up about quietly battling PTSD, the day a pistol in her mouth became a wake-up call, and the moment she realized real recovery starts when you “show up for yourself” . Today, Brooke channels those lessons into coaching Texas high-school athletes and researching how leaders can guide teams through trauma.

Why Listen?

• Raw, first-person insight into women on the front lines.
• A candid look at mental-health setbacks—and the small, consistent steps that build resilience.
• Leadership gold for veterans, coaches, and anyone guiding a team under pressure.
• Practical takeaways on purpose, service, and staying mission-driven after the uniform comes off.

Rate, follow, and share if Brooke’s story moves you—and tag a sister-in-arms who needs this reminder: the bravest mission you’ll ever take is the one to heal yourself.

Get ready to be inspired, moved, and utterly captivated by the latest episode of The Not So Average Jane Podcast! This week, we're bringing you the incredible story of Chantilly Toodle, a woman whose journey from a small town in Georgia to the front lines of combat will leave you breathless.

Join us as we delve into Chantilly's harrowing experiences in the Army, where she faced unimaginable challenges and emerged with a strength forged in the crucible of adversity. From narrowly escaping a terrifying assault at her first duty station in Korea to witnessing the horrors of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, Chantilly's resilience and courage are nothing short of extraordinary.

🎧 Tune in for:

Don't miss this compelling episode that showcases the unbreakable spirit of a true warrior. Chantilly's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the incredible potential that lies within each of us, no matter the scars we bear.

Hit play and prepare to be inspired! 💪🌟

We're just scratching the surface with all the incredible accomplishments and wisdom this woman offers - tune in to here the entire story!

The Least of Us, may be found here: https://a.co/d/89cp5h2

Inspired by the Storm Troopers as a child, Alessia pursued her dream of joining the Air Force right out of high school in 2009 as a Security Forces airman. During a long and chaotic deployment in Afghanistan, Alessia found peace interacting with the local children on base that eventually manifested into a holistic medicine she would tap into years later while finding herself in a dark space.

Tracy Ardrey retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class (SFC) in 2005, seeing combat at the close of her military career. She gladly supported the Operation Iraqi Freedom mission after nearly two decades of the Army supporting her. That did not come without a heavy burden encased in anger she carried for nearly two decades after that.

Ashley Paminto joined the Army in 2006 and deployed to Iraq in 2008 in a supporting role to an aviation unit. We talk feminine struggles, baby blessings, male egos, and music therapy. Ashley's story is one of continued perseverance.

Chelsea Majeske, a Marine and two time combat veteran, led some of the most dangerous, yet, instrumental missions in Iraq. She discusses the mental challenges she faced as a woman in the midst of operational decisions and the impact it's had on her nearly 20 years later. Yet, she fights every day to thrive in memory and in honor of those she lost along the way.

Kimberly Herm joined the Navy through the ROTC program with intentions of being a pilot. After discovering she had extreme motion sickness, she pivoted - leveraging her degree to become a part of the civil engineer core. She soon found herself on a solo deployment to help rebuild Afghanistan, often being placed in extremely vulnerable situations for the sake of the mission. Kimberly's unique position afforded success that may have otherwise failed without her; however, that did not come without a price. Kimberly is now rediscovering who she is as she starts her transition out of the military as well as her healing journey. 

Lacy Jo Keller joined the Marines in 2008, motivated by 9-11 to do the "patriotic thing". Growing up around horses and large farming equipment, she found herself opting to train as a combat engineer and operating large machinery in a male dominated environment often having to go well above and beyond the standards to prove herself worthy. After serving two deployments to Afghanistan with only a six month break, she returned home decorated with merits but feeling broken, looking for help, and eventually self medicating. Thanks to a good friend and a new approach, Lacy found her way back to herself and now inspires others to do the same.

Linda Schulze joined the Air Force in 1997 with a family inspired passion for food and serving people. Little did she know, that would evolve into one of the most difficult and honorable tasks in serving our fallen veteran brothers and sisters. Linda spent 17 years supporting missions around the world battling the mental and emotional merry-go-round that comes with multiple rotations into combat zones. These struggles came with a psychological price tag. Even though Linda knew she would benefit from professional help, the fear of loss led to avoiding outreach resulting in unnecessary challenges and unhealthy coping mechanisms.