Many veterans today are suffering—and isolation is a key cause.

Without the shared mission and tribe of active duty life, mental and emotional wounds can deepen in silence.

Could nature, skill, and community be the antidote?

Retired Lt. Col. John “Saint” Langford thinks so.

As CEO of Project Healing Waters, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving disabled veterans, Langford now leads one of the most unique healing organizations in America. Through the therapeutic art of fly fishing—and the power of nature and community—his team helped over 7,000 veterans in 2024 rediscover strength and post-traumatic healing.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Why fly fishing offers a potent combination of focus, challenge, and community for trauma recovery

- How nature and structured discomfort can rewire the brain and support long-term mental health

- The science behind community as medicine—and how loneliness is killing more Americans than heart disease

- The idea of “tribe” and how veterans can find it again outside of uniform

- What civilians can learn from this model—and why we’re all wired for meaning, purpose, and shared mission

Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or simply someone feeling lost in today’s world, this episode offers hope—and a reminder: sometimes healing starts waist-deep in a river, fly rod in hand, with someone beside you who gets it.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

- Start your healing journey with Project Healing Waters: Locations : Project Healing Waters

- Support the mission / Donate: Get Involved : Project Healing Waters

- Having suicidal thoughts? Dial 988 (Available 24/7)

SPONSORS:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RUNNING FREE RESOURCES

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Running Free Podcast - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to live healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.

The Variety Pack is back—and yes, it’s as unpredictable as ever. We’re tackling your best (and weirdest) questions about fitness, faith, health, and real life with zero filter and plenty of laughs.

This week:

- What your pee color says about your supplement stack

- Are peptides worth the hype—or just expensive hope?

- How alcohol affects your brain long-term

- Can fitness become a new addiction?

- Should Christians drink—or steer clear?

- What the Church gets right (and wrong) about recovery

It’s fast, fun, and honest—but always grounded in the mission: helping you live strong, think clearly, and run free.

Got a question for the next Ask Us Anything? DM us @runningfreepodcast on Instagram.

SPONSORS:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RUNNING FREE RESOURCES

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Running Free Podcast - YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back.

We cover fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to live healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.

How would the world be different if everyone had a good father?

In this special Father’s Day Week episode, we ask a simple but powerful question: What makes a good dad? Drawing from wisdom, research, and personal experience, this episode explores four pillars that every parent can strive toward: protection, provision, presence, and praise.

Whether you're a dad, want to be one, or reflecting on your relationship with your own father (or lack thereof), this episode offers a powerful reminder that good fathers can change the world, and it starts at home.

SPONSORS:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RUNNING FREE RESOURCES

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠Running Free Podcast - YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to live healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.

We don’t like to talk about death—but what if your fear of death is shaping how you live, and driving your anxiety?

In this solo episode, Jesse shares how his personal experiences with death—and how a therapist’s simple question unlocked a deep truth: our fear of death may be the hidden source of our anxiety, ambition, and need for control.

Drawing from global traditions, we explore what Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and modern secular thinkers believe about death and the afterlife. From Ecclesiastes to Michael Singer, Alan Watts to David Gibson, this episode offers a guided reflection on how our beliefs about death shape how we live.

EPISODE RESOURCES

- Intro Clip: Learn more from Alan Watts: Alan Watts Org - Audio Lecture Collections, Official Videos, Books, & Quotes

- Book Suggestion: Living Life Backward, by David Gibson: Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David Gibson | Goodreads

SPONSORS:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RUNNING FREE RESOURCES

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠Running Free Podcast - YouTube⁠⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to trade distraction and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.

Should you drink less, or not at all?

As summer starts, we want to help you answer this question and give you the tools to stay on whatever wagon YOU choose.

We cover:

If you’re trying to drink less—or quit altogether—this episode is for you.

SPONSORS:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠Running Free Podcast - YouTube⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, mental health, culture, addiction, parenting, humor, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to trade distraction and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop Chasing Life. Start Running Free.

Welcome to the first-ever Running Free Variety Pack — a new monthly tradition where we let our hair down, field listener questions, react to surprise prompts, and riff on everything from the meaningful to the ridiculous.

This week:
• Is flexing in the mirror a crime?• The origin story of Justin's nickname• Who is the more mature gentlemen?• Our gym pet peeves• Our go-to healthy fast-food spots• Gas vs. electric vehicles

It’s unfiltered, fast-paced, and fun—but as always, packed with substance (the healthy kind).

Got a question or topic for the next Variety Pack? DM @runningfreepodcast on Instagram and we might tackle it on the next one.

Sponsors:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Community:

- Visit our website ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe & Support:

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: Running Free Podcast - YouTube

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about optimizing health, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, parenting, mindfulness, addiction, mental health, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to trade distraction and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Do you really need to lift weights to be healthy?
Is intermittent fasting a magic bullet for fat loss?
Should you be tracking every macro, every day?

In this episode of Running Free, Jesse and co-host Justin Maziarz cut through the noise and tackle some of the most persistent myths in fitness today. From cold plunges to HIIT to calorie counting, they explore what’s legit, what’s overhyped, and what actually works in 2025.

If you’re tired of confusion and ready to train with purpose—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now to learn what’s real, what’s not, and what to do instead.

Sponsors:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Community:

- Visit our website ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe & Support:

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SoberStrengthPodcast⁠⁠

Life is short, and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Running Free is a podcast about turning down the noise, and breaking free from the habits and distractions that hold us back. We cover fitness, parenting, mindfulness, addiction, mental health, and everything in between.

Hosted by veteran, fitness expert, and health advocate Jesse Carrajat, each episode explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who teach and inspire us to trade distraction and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Modern parenting is exhausting—and the answer isn’t doing more.

What if being a "Good Enough" parent is more than enough for your kids?

On this week's episode, we talk about the quiet exhaustion of modern parenting, why perfectionism is stealing our joy (and presence), and how social media has warped our sense of what it means to be a “good parent.”

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, guilty, or like you're missing the moments that matter—this one’s for you.

Sponsors:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠⁠

Resources & Community:

- Visit our website ⁠here⁠.

- Subscribe to our newsletter ⁠here⁠.

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠⁠

Subscribe & Support:

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SoberStrengthPodcast⁠

Running Free is a weekly podcast about turning down the noise, living with intention, and breaking free from the habits, distractions, and mindsets that hold us back.

Hosted by veteran, mental health advocate, fitness expert, and father of three Jesse Carrajat, each episode curiously explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who will teach and inspire us to trade distraction for depth, and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop chasing. Start Running FREE.

This episode marks a new chapter.

I’ve rebranded the show to Running Free—and this episode talks about why the change matters, where the show is headed, and why Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to have this conversation.

We’ll walk through the hard stats on mental health in America—and ask the more important question: what are we going to do about it?

It's time we all stop chasing, and start Running Free.

Sponsors:

- Take control of your drinking with medication-assisted treatment from Oar Health: ⁠https://bit.ly/OarStrength⁠

- Boost your performance and recovery with Momentous Supplements—get 20% off with code "STRENGTH": ⁠https://livemomentous.com⁠

Resources & Community:

- Visit our website here.

- Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

- Are Today’s Kids More Addicted Than Ever? | Chris Herren, NBA Star & Recovery Advocate: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3AZ8f0P⁠

- How to Eat to Drink Less Alcohol | Dr. Brooke Scheller: ⁠https://spoti.fi/JAPP9g3⁠

- Social Media Addiction - 5 Statistics That Should SCARE You: ⁠https://spoti.fi/ygZw3lZ⁠

Subscribe & Support:

- Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://apple.co/4at8Yhn⁠

- Spotify Podcasts: ⁠https://spoti.fi/3GAGVPJ⁠

- YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SoberStrengthPodcast

Running Free is a weekly podcast about turning down the noise, living with intention, and breaking free from the habits, distractions, and mindsets that hold us back.

Hosted by veteran, mental health advocate, fitness expert, and father of three Jesse Carrajat, each episode curiously explores what it means to live fully—through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who will teach and inspire us to trade distraction for depth, and frivolousness for healthy, long, meaningful lives.

Stop chasing. Start Running FREE.

Life is short—and it moves fast. This show will help you make the most of it.

Introducing Running Free, a podcast about turning down the noise, living with intention, and breaking free from the habits, distractions, and mindsets that hold us back.

Hosted by USMC veteran, mental health advocate, fitness expert, and father of three Jesse Carrajat, each episode curiously explores what it means to live fully. Through honest conversations with thinkers, creators, and everyday people who will teach and inspire you, Running Free will help you trade distraction for depth, and frivolousness for a healthy, long, meaningful life.

New episodes weekly. Stop chasing, and start Running Free.