Struggle Well Podcast

In Part II, Boulder Crest Foundation founder Ken Falke shares how he and his wife, Julia, turned their commitment to wounded service members into a mission to change lives. From donating their own land to discovering Posttraumatic Growth, Ken reflects on the journey that shaped Boulder Crest and his belief that people can do more than survive struggle — they can grow because of it.

For Ken Falke, service has never been something that ends with a uniform. From his distinguished career as a Navy EOD Master Chief to founding Boulder Crest Foundation alongside his wife, Julia, Ken has spent his life looking for ways to serve. In this special two-part conversation, Ken reflects on the experiences that shaped him, the wounded service members and families who inspired a new mission, and his determination to find a better way to support veterans and first responders through life's challenges. Along the way, he discovered Posttraumatic Growth and a powerful truth: struggle doesn't have to be the end of the story.

Randy Sutton spent years on the front lines of law enforcement, serving with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and appearing on the hit television show COPS. But it was a personal health crisis that would ultimately change the direction of his life and career. Through his own experience, Randy saw firsthand the gaps in support for officers facing physical and psychological injuries. He went on to found The Wounded Blue, an organization dedicated to ensuring injured and disabled law enforcement officers aren't left to navigate those challenges alone.
Learn More: https://bouldercrest.org

Two nights on the job changed police officer Emma Sullivan's life in ways she never anticipated. What followed wasn't simply a matter of returning to work or putting difficult experiences behind her. In this episode of the Struggle Well Podcast, Emma joins host Britt Myers to share what happened, how those experiences affected her life, and the difficult decisions she made to prioritize her mental health. Emma's story offers a powerful perspective on what it takes to move forward after trauma.
Learn more: https://bouldercrest.org

For years, Chris Tompkins answered calls from people experiencing the worst moments of their lives. But while he was helping others through their emergencies, he was facing a crisis of his own. His story explores what happens on the other side of the emergency — when the person who answers the call becomes the one who needs support.
Learn more: https://bouldercrest.org

For first responders, some calls don't end when the emergency is over. Firefighter Tyler Packer knows how quickly an ordinary day can become a defining moment. A tragic crash became part of a personal journey that forced him to confront difficult questions about life, identity, and what comes next. Through his story, Tyler offers a perspective on the human side of emergency response and the possibility of finding meaning and purpose after experiences that change us.

Learn more: https://bouldercrest.org

Police officers are trained to respond to emergencies, make difficult decisions, and remain composed under pressure. But those expectations can make it difficult to acknowledge when the work begins taking a personal toll. For Marcia Johnson, a 21-year career in law enforcement brought experiences that challenged her understanding of strength, leadership, and trauma. This is a conversation about the person behind the badge and why even the strongest leaders need space to confront their own struggles.
Learn more: https://bouldercrest.org

For years, Donnie Penix knew how to respond to a crisis. What he didn't know was how to confront the one unfolding in his own life. After a fatal shooting in 2016, years of accumulated trauma began catching up with the veteran law enforcement officer. Behind the uniform, Donnie was struggling with his mental health and eventually reached a point where he questioned whether he wanted to keep living. In this episode of the Struggle Well Podcast, Donnie shares the experiences that brought him to that breaking point, the lessons he learned through Struggle Well, and how his understanding of strength changed along the way.

Learn more: https://bouldercrest.org

Greg “Coach” Morin spent years training championship pit crews for some of NASCAR's biggest names. But when a simple observation from his six-year-old son led him to walk away from racing, Greg found himself struggling with the loss of his career, his identity, and his sense of purpose. Coach shares how an unexpected introduction to Boulder Crest changed everything.

For 28 years as a paramedic, Darrell Demers learned to anticipate the worst before it happened. Eventually, that instinct followed him home, affecting his sleep, his health and the way he moved through everyday life. Darrell shares what happened when he finally began talking about what he had carried for decades, and how Struggle Well helped him stop living as though the next emergency was always around the corner.