Struggle Well Podcast

Ken talks to the “Grateful American” and founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, Gary Sinise, about their friendship, shared commitment to serving veterans, and the importance of service.

We are in the midst of an unprecedented epidemic that is causing a great deal of struggle around the country and world. Who better to talk about enforced isolation, deprivation, and no clear end in sight than Charlie Plumb, who spent years in captivity as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton.

Listen to Josh Goldberg and Ken Falke break down the wellness triangle and how you stay balanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair provide guidance on each part of the triangle with helpful tips to struggle well. If you love what you hear, get  the book on Amazon and dive deep into the Struggle Well philosophy.

Listen to our Warrior PATHH Alumni Ian Ricci, and newly appointed Mobile Training Team PATHH Guide, share his ptg journey and the road ahead. Ian lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his wife and three daughters.

At one point the longest deployed psychologist in U.S. Army history, Dr. Bret Moore talks about what inspired him to become a psychologist, life in the Army, how he learned about PTG, and tips for living a great life and learning to struggle well.

Thanksgiving reminds us all to always be grateful and have gratitude for all we have in life. Listen to Josh Goldberg, the Executive Director of the Boulder Crest Institute, and Nate McCafferty, BCR VA PATHH Guide, dissect gratitude and how we practice that in Warrior PATHH.

www.BoulderCrestRetreat.com/WarriorPATHH
www.BoulderCrestInstitute.org
www.strugglewell.com

Listen to Navy EOD wife, Lindsey Stacy, talk about her life as a caregiver and give insight into her daily life managing a household of six. Lindsey is married to Kenton Stacy, a highly decorated Navy Senior Chief EOD Technician, who holds two bronze stars and a purple heart. They have four children together and currently reside in San Diego, California. The couple grew up in Greenville, Ohio, and were high school sweethearts.

On November 9, 2017, towards the end of Kenton’s fourth combat deployment, he was struck by an IED while clearing a hospital in Syria. The IED detonated and forever changed their lives. Kenton had to fight for his life and was resuscitated four times after the blast. He lost six inches of his trachea and 42 pints of blood. The IED penetrated through his neck and out his spine leaving him a quadriplegic. The shrapnel has left Kenton blind in his left eye, and his voice box and vocal cords were so damaged he can’t produce a voice and relies on his wife to read his lips.

Kenton remains strong and still manages to smile every day. Kenton cognitively is all there and can remember everything prior to the blast going off. This last year has been the hardest year for the family, and even more so for Kenton.

Lindsey is a survivor and has had the opportunity to travel to 12 countries in her life. Before becoming a full-time caregiver, she studied travel and tourism, and interned at Walt Disney World, which holds a special place in her heart. Lindsey knows the road will continue to be difficult but is grateful to have her husband alive.

They will be celebrating his “Alive Day” On November 9, 2019 with the 2019 STACY STRONG 5K to help raise funds for the ever growing expensive to take care of Kenton. To register and find out more information click here https://www.classy.org/event/2019-stacy-strong-5k/e234450

Read a background of their story here https://www.stripes.com/news/us/a-bomb-blast-a-phone-call-and-a-navy-family-forever-changed-1.588483/kenton-stacy-1.588485

www.strugglewell.com
www.bouldercrestretreat.org
www.bouldercrestinstitute.org

Listen to Josh Goldberg talk about his struggles with suicide, posttraumatic growth, and answer questions with special guest Anna Kavanaugh, Boulder Crest Institute's Content Manager.

Stay: A History of Suicide and the Philosophies Against It
https://www.amazon.com/Stay-History-Suicide-Philosophies-Against/dp/B00FVX7SVK/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=stay&qid=1569201795&s=books&sr=1-16

Listen to RET US Marine Tim Brown, a native of San Antonio and Houston, Texas, tell his story of how he survived an IED blast in February 2011 and how it changed his life forever. From chats with his EOD teammates, as well as a helmet camera video, he learned that on the afternoon of 3 February 2011, he triggered an explosive device while responding to an IED that was discovered by the Marines of India Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines. Taliban forces in Sangin, Afghanistan specifically designed this IED to target his EOD team; a team which had already lost a team leader to severe wounds. The blast caused Tim to lose both legs above the knee, his right arm above the elbow, mangled his left hand, and left him with severe damage to the perineum. Tim has made 40 trips to the operating room since that date for reconstructive surgeries.

Tim retired from the Marine Corps and is currently finishing his degree from Georgetown University. He will spend the next year as the head of the University’s Student Veterans chapter. Upon graduation, Tim plans to work in the nonprofit space and serve those who have suffered severe injuries - both veterans and civilians.

Read more here https://www.bushcenter.org/people/timothy-w-brown.html
www.strugglewell.com
www.bouldercrestretreat.org
www.bouldercrestinstitute.org

Josh and Ken sit down with Andrew Bottrell, a former Navy EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Technician, who shares his story, lessons learned, and outlook on life. He talks about how he managed to not become addicted to painkillers while still able to use prosthetic legs just two months after his injury in Afghanistan in 2011. The blast took three of Andrew’s limbs; both legs and one arm. Andrew says that NONE of these things define him. He believes you need to dominate your life through whatever happens. If you do not like your situation, change it. Do not blame somebody else for it and do not wait for somebody else to do something about it. You are not entitled to anything, only what you work for. Take control of your own life, because life is what you make of it, so make the best of it. Andrew lives with his wife and daughter in San Diego, California.

Andrew's Bio with Gary Sinise: https://youtu.be/vuezyunGKRQ
Andrew Bottrell's Home Dedication: https://youtu.be/heTfDL_OF9I