Nick Paldo, a small business leader and veteran entrepreneur, shares his experience in the US Army and the impact it had on his mental health.

He discusses the loss of identity that many veterans face when transitioning back to civilian life and the challenges of adjusting to a different set of values and expectations.

Nick also talks about the concept of operator syndrome, a neurological consequence of being in a constant state of hypervigilance, and how it can affect veterans' daily lives.

He emphasizes the importance of seeking help and learning tools and skills to cope with trauma and mental health struggles.

In this conversation, we discuss the importance of having difficult conversations, the communal nature of trauma recovery, and the role of environment in healing. We also touch on the significance of health and fitness in mental health, the misconceptions surrounding trauma, and the connection between childhood trauma and addiction.

Nick shares his vision for Sophros Recovery and offers advice for families and loved ones of those struggling with addiction or trauma.

Takeaways

You can learn more about Nick and the great work at Sophros Recovery: https://www.sophrosrecovery.com/

Susan Kourasris, a nutritional therapist, discusses the connection between gut health and grief/trauma.

She shares her personal journey of losing her sister to cancer and how it led her to explore natural and holistic approaches to health.

Susan emphasizes the importance of taking control of our own health and supporting our body's natural healing abilities. She also highlights the impact of stress on our bodies, including inflammation and depletion of essential minerals.

Susan provides tips for improving sleep, such as breathing exercises and supplements like magnesium and lemon balm.

She explains the benefits of zinc and magnesium supplements, such as ZMA, for promoting better sleep.

Susan also delves into the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and how they affect our overall well-being.

She emphasizes the need to optimize the parasympathetic system for healing and repair.

Additionally, Susan shares insights on the early stages of grief and trauma and the importance of taking care of both physical and emotional health.

She also highlights the mission of Wholly Heart Nutrition and the programs she offers to support gut health and overall well-being.

Join host OG in a heartfelt episode of the Mended Man podcast as he sits down with Kera Sanchez, the visionary editor in chief behind Get Griefy Magazine and Founder of Legacy Letters Guided Journals.

Through intimate storytelling, Kera unveils her personal journey of loss, recounting the devastating moment of unexpectedly losing her mother while her newborn daughter fought for life in the NICU.

Together, they confront the societal discomfort surrounding grief and the imperative of destigmatizing negative emotions.

Discover Kera's inspiring quest to make grief more approachable, igniting a movement through guided journals and the founding of Get Griefy Magazine. Through her own transformative journey, Kera shines a light on the profound shifts in her outlook on love and life, advocating for the power of embracing grief without succumbing to its weight.

Tune in as Kera shares her wisdom on moving forward without forsaking the memories that shape us, and the essential role of community in navigating the turbulent waters of grief.

With authenticity and grace, Kera invites listeners to join her in embracing the raw beauty of grief while staying true to oneself.

In this episode, we interview my good friend Ron Cavazos, a fitness and mindset entrepreneur, about his journey from a challenging upbringing to personal development and breaking generational traumas.

Ron shares how he discovered personal development through reading and the impact it had on his mindset.

He emphasizes the importance of a morning routine and the discipline required to wake up at 2:30 AM every day.

Ron also discusses the challenges and rewards of fatherhood and the responsibility of being a positive example for his daughter.

Our conversation highlights the power of belief in oneself and the value of providing and being of service to others.

Ron talks about his work in fitness and mindset coaching, emphasizing the importance of facing adversity and aligning actions, thoughts, and energy with our goals.

He reflects on his experience attending a mastermind with Wes Watson and the impact it had on his mindset.

Thank you, Ron, for this powerhouse episode!

In this episode, I interview my friend, Kendall Ebanks, a former elite boxer and MDK brother, about his experiences with the Ivy Ridge program (as seen on Netflix).

Kendall shares his background and journey to becoming a boxer, highlighting the role of chaos and survival in shaping his resilience.

We discuss the deceptive marketing tactics used by programs like Ivy Ridge, which promise to help troubled teens but often subject them to abuse.

Kendall emphasizes the importance of awareness and the need to protect vulnerable individuals from such programs. He also shares his mindset of pivoting and adjusting in the face of adversity, and how he has turned trauma into a superpower.

In this conversation, Kendall shares his experience at Ivy Ridge and the impact it had on him.

He emphasizes the long-term effects of the program on identity and the desperate measures some kids took to escape. Kendall shares his journey of resilience and overcoming trauma, and offers advice for those feeling stuck.

He concludes by discussing his legacy and the positive impact he wants to make in the world.

What an amazing episode! Thank you, Kendall.

Join Richard Macias, the man behind Warpath.fit, as he opens up about his incredible journey.

From hitting rock bottom to rebuilding his life physically, mentally, and spiritually, Richard shares the raw truths of his transformation.

He stresses the importance of facing your demons head-on and finding the courage to ask for help. But it's not just about his own journey - Richard's story is about redemption and how it breathed new life into his relationships, especially with his wife.

Through honesty, hard work, and dedication, he not only overcame addiction but also found a renewed sense of purpose in fatherhood.

Tune in as Richard shares his insights on communication, healing, and the pursuit of passion, while giving you a glimpse into the mission behind Warpath Fit.

This is truly an amazing testament of growth, resilience, and the power of finding your path.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dan Flores, a life and mindset coach, speaker, and solar sales professional.

Dan shares his journey from growing up in a challenging environment to finding inspiration in the world of entrepreneurship and personal development.

He discusses the importance of taking progressive steps and overcoming the fear of the unknown. Dan also emphasizes the significance of surrounding oneself with the right people and the impact of endurance and perseverance in achieving goals.

In this conversation, Dan and I discuss topics such as overcoming adversity, the importance of having vision and goals, overcoming the fear of failure and dealing with setbacks.

This conversation is all about the power of taking massive action and not quitting in the pursuit of mastering all areas of life and leaving a legacy.

In this episode, I interview Jared Kahn about his mission to help bonus dads and blended families.

We discuss the role of a bonus dad, the challenges faced in blended families, and the importance of prioritizing the marriage.

Jared shares his personal journey as a bonus dad and offers advice for those entering into blended families. He emphasizes the need for self-reflection, communication, and a selfless mindset in order to create a strong foundation in blended families.

Jared's mission is to help more blended families remain together and thrive.

Takeaways

In this episode, I have a pleasure of having my beautiful wife, Rebecca, as she shares her experience of losing our two-year-old son, Ollie, in a drowning accident.

She recounts the events of that fateful day and the immediate aftermath, including the hospital experience and the decision to remove life support.

Rebecca and OG discuss their different ways of grieving and the importance of self-care during the healing process. We highlight the significance of journaling and movement as tools for processing emotions and finding strength.

Despite our immense pain, we emphasize the power of community and the ability to find hope and meaning in the midst of tragedy.n We discuss tools for processing grief, the blessing of grief, the future and our hope of starting a family again, soon.

In this conversation, Chris Gibson shares his personal journey of overcoming trauma and finding strength through faith. He discusses the challenges he faced growing up in a troubled family, including witnessing his parents' struggles and his father's life-altering accident.

Chris also opens up about the loss of his mother, uncle, father, and brother, and how these experiences shaped his perspective on life and death.

Despite the hardships, Chris has found solace in his faith and strives to be a better father to his two young daughters, breaking the cycle of generational trauma. In this conversation,

Chris Gibson shares his personal journey and the lessons he has learned along the way. The conversation touches on the importance of love and patience, the power of thinking and giving oneself time, finding God in nature, healing the inner child, and defining success as love and character.