Matt Dudley and Mike Lose are hosts of a reality series called Leatherneck Reconnect. Leatherneck Reconnect is dedicated to reconnecting with marine veterans and help them cope with life after service. They seek out those who need emotional assistance and old friends who just want to hang out with the people they served beside.

Matt and Mike join us today to discuss the Leatherneck Reconnect show and what they want to achieve with this type of series. They explain the need for veterans to reconnect with the people around them. They share stories of some of the people they’ve met and how far they’ve gone. Matt and Mike also describe what it was like meeting an old friend along the way and why his story is one of the most impactful ones out there.

“Everybody has a good support system with their own family, but the reality of it is the guys who served with that person are a support system as well.” - Mike Lose

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

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Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Josh Hansen is the co-founder of Continue Mission, a 501(c)(3) organization on a mission to help veterans battling service-related physical, mental, and emotional challenges. At 30-years-old, he enlisted in the Army after 9/11, serving two tours in Iraq. While in Iraq, he sustained 8 direct hits by IEDs, which resulted in multiple traumatic injuries. After returning home and battling his own darkness within, he made it his mission to help his brothers and sisters in arms to rediscover and continue their mission in life.

Josh joins us today to share why he decided to join the Army after the events of 9/11, his battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, and how these experiences inspired him to start Continue Mission in an effort to help his brothers and sisters in arms. He shares why he struggled to transition from military life to civilian life and how exercise and proper nutrition help him heal his body, mind, and soul. He also shares why he strongly believes that in order to win the battle against the 22-a-day statistic, veterans need to rely on the support of fellow military veterans as well as seek help from their local VA and community.

“You just don’t know who has those hidden wounds. If we can help one another out more and help each other through life - we can save lives.” - Josh Hansen

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Connect with Josh Hansen:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

John Goley has an extensive family history of military veterans, stemming back from the Spanish American War and World War II all the way through Vietnam. During his military career, he served in the Army during the Cold War as a U.S. Army Airborne Infantryman. His son served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, his daughter served in the National Guard, and his son-in-law served in OIF as well as Kuwait.

John joins us today to share his story and his battle with depression and suicidal thoughts. He shares how his brush with suicide led his mission to help other veterans battle their darkness and put an end to 22-a-day. He also explains how losing multiple military brothers and sisters has impacted his life and shares his advice for veterans currently battling the darkness and why it’s important to understand that your mission isn’t over.

“Our mission is still going. We’ve got to take care of each other.” - John Goley

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Resources Mentioned:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Jim Tough, a.k.a. The Push-Up Guy, is a 14-year military veteran. Over the course of his career, he served 11 years as an Army infantryman and three years as a recruiter. In 2002, Jim suffered two heart attacks mere weeks apart, shortly before his tentative deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Due to health concerns, he was considered non-deployable, serving the remainder of his military career as a non-commissioned officer.

Jim joins us today to share his experience of surviving multiple heart attacks and his internal battle with darkness. He explains why he lost his sense of purpose after surviving two heart attacks and the impact it had on his life and marriage. He explains how participating in the 22 for 22 Challenge inspired him to motivate other military veterans to push back against depression and suicide and how applying the values you learned and developed in the military to your daily life can help you find the light at the end of the dark tunnel.

“The 22 is my contribution of trying to get people to back off the edge of the cliff and quit staring into the abyss.” - Jim Tough

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Connect with Jim Tough:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Daniel Hall is a dog breeder that specializes in breeding service dogs, particularly service dogs skilled in helping veteran handlers combating PTSD and depression. He is a military veteran who has served in the National Guard between 2005 and 2007 as well as in active duty in 2010 through 2014.

Daniel joins us today to discuss what inspired him to breed and train service dogs to help the veteran community combat the darkness of post-combat PTSD and depression. He explains the characteristics and types of dogs he considers to be a perfect fit for service dog training. He explains how service dogs help veterans through the darkness of PTSD and depression while aiding their long-term care and recovery. He also shares why he decided to take up arms against the 22-a-Day statistic through his service dog training services as well as the Facebook communities he supports.

“There’s really a wide, wide range of tasks that service dogs can handle.” - Daniel Hall

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Connect with Daniel Hall:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Ben Valdez is a Marine Corps veteran. At a young age, he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects his social and nonverbal communication skills.

Ben joins us today to share his story of joining the Marines, living with Asperger’s, and how he began living his own Hero’s Journey after leaving the military. He explains what Asperger’s is and why military life can often be more challenging for people with the condition. He shares the challenges he faced while serving his country and how they led to his depression and PTSD. He also shares how joining the Marine Corps League after being discharged from the Marines have given him the strength to create his own Hero’s Journey.

“It’s okay to mayday.” - Ben Valdez

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Ben Valdez:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Angela James enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17. She served her country in this branch until 1985 and has seen her share of combat and trauma. After leaving the Navy, she served 10 years as a police officer, serving her community, as well as ran two successful businesses. After the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001 and driven by the desire to ‘do something,’ she decided to re-enlist and serve in the Air Force.

Angela joins us today to share her experiences while serving in the military and being deployed in Beirut. She explains why she decided to re-enlist in the Air Force after the 9/11 attacks on our country. She shares when she and her family began noticing her struggles with combat-related PTSD and her attempt on taking her life. She also shares ‘6 clicks’ helped her realize God had a bigger plan for her and how she found the light in that dark closet and period of her life.

“Move forward. Heal and move forward. That’s the goal.” - Angela James

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Connect with Angela James:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.

Adam Morgan is a 27-year Navy veteran. He has served 17 years as an enlisted serviceman before becoming a limited-duty officer. During his time in the military, he served 14 years on sea duty and has been deployed 9 times - 8 of which were served in the Persian Gulf region.

Adam joins us today to discuss how the responsibilities and challenges differ for enlisted servicemen vs. military officers. He shares his experiences while being deployed and how these experiences impacted his personal and professional life since becoming a civilian. He shares the challenges he faced while trying to cope with combat-related trauma, how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helped him begin his journey to recovery and why he believes he still struggled with alcoholism, even after receiving treatment. He also explains how he finally broke his drinking habit and decided to get the help he needed to better cope with his experiences as well as advice for other veterans currently struggling with post-combat related trauma.

“We have these rights in America that we fought for. You paid for those. You have a right to live free.” - Adam Morgan

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

Welcome to Surviving Me, with your hosts Don Costa and Shane Hakala. Surviving Me is a podcast dedicated to supporting the heroes that served our country, fought for our freedom, and continue to fight the hardest battle of all - the battle within.

In this episode, Don and Shane share who they are and why they are passionate about helping military veterans share their stories. They explain how civilians can pull together to show the veteran community that they are not alone; there is help, support, and purpose in life after the military. They also share why they’re on a mission to elevate awareness on veteran suicide as well as what you can expect to hear from each episode and the opportunities military veterans and civilians alike can take part in to find purpose and support - or lend support to others within the community.

“It’s time for us to make the world understand that veterans need to be heard and supported. We need to show them that they’re not alone.” - Don Costa 

In This Episode of Surviving Me:

Help Military Veterans Share Their Story

Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.

And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.

DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.