The Warrior's Journey

Driven by a passion for hockey, Dean Wegner joined a thriving Division I Program at West Point, becoming a US Army officer in the process. During his time there, his interest in aviation led him to become a helicopter pilot, and after a successful post-military career in business, he launched apparel company Authentically American® in 2017. Today, he joins the podcast to share the story of his life, service, family, and faith.

To find out more about Dean and Authentically American, visit https://www.authenticallyamericanbrand.us/. TWJ Podcast listeners can enter the code "FOUNDER" for a 25% discount on any purchase!

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast

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Dean Wegner, West Point grad and former US Army helicopter pilot, joins the podcast once again to talk about his newest venture: Authentically American®, an all-American apparel brand!

In 2017, Dean created Authentically American to help bring manufacturing jobs back to America by selling premium, competitively priced, apparel that is ALL Made in USA, no exceptions. His expertise in the apparel industry, coupled with his passion for America, provided all the incentive he needed to create a brand that aims to set the universally accepted standard for premium American made merchandise, while delivering a significant impact on US job creation.

Visit https://www.authenticallyamericanbrand.us/ where TWJ Podcast listeners can enter the code "FOUNDER" for a 25% discount on a purchase!

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast

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In this episode, we welcome back a special partner of The Warrior's Journey: 2020 Bassmaster Classic Champion Hank Cherry and his wife, Jaclyn!

Hank and Jaclyn have an enormous heart for the military. They acknowledge and appreciate the immense sacrifice that warriors and their families make, and are using their platform to give back to the military community.

Hank Cherry won the 2013 Elite Series Rookie of the Year award, and recently won the 50th Bassmaster Classic – the Super Bowl of the bass fishing world!

To learn more about Hank Cherry, visit www.hankcherry.com.

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast

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Josh and Paige Wetzel rejoin the podcast to continue sharing their incredible and unlikely journey of faith in the midst of traumatic loss and pain.

Paige Wetzel received the phone call that every military wife prays will never come. Her husband, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, stepped on an IED while patrolling in Afghanistan. The blast resulted in the immediate loss of his legs. His survival was uncertain, and in the days to come, this traumatic incident began an unbelievable journey of faith for them as a couple.

Check out their incredible new book, Beautifully Broken: An Unlikely Journey of Faith, available for preorder now and releasing on October 13th, 2020 everywhere books are sold!

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

Paige Wetzel received the phone call that every military wife prays will never come. Her husband, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, stepped on an IED while patrolling in Afghanistan. The blast resulted in the immediate loss of his legs. His survival was uncertain, and in the days to come, this traumatic incident began an unbelievable journey of faith for them as a couple.

In this episode, you'll discover yet another example of God creating beauty out of brokenness as Paige and Josh share their powerful story.

Check out their incredible new book, Beautifully Broken: An Unlikely Journey of Faith, available for preorder now and releasing on October 13th, 2020 everywhere books are sold!

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." – Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Chief Shannon Johnson (US Navy, Ret.) and his wife Annaliza join the podcast once again for a wide-ranging, two part conversation about raising thriving, successful children in a military context. There are no perfect families, but through the Johnson's experiences, warrior parents everywhere can gain encouragement and wisdom as they navigate the unique challenges of building a family in the midst of military life.

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

"Don't give up on God, 'cause He's not given up on you."

After 25 years of active duty service, Chief Shannon Johnson retired from the U.S. Navy. Through multiple assignments and deployments, including Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he enjoyed an incredible military career. However, in the midst of all of the military success were spiritual highs and lows, as he found himself drifting away from a once-vibrant relationship with God and in need of rediscovering God's purpose for his life.

In this episode, Shannon and his wife Annaliza share their military journey, as well as their spiritual journey, with depth and vulnerability. Through their story, warrior families everywhere gain an incredible example of what it looks like to follow God – through the ups and downs – in a military context.

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

We're back for Part 2 of a conversation between Kevin Weaver of The Warrior's Journey, photographer Lloyd Smith, and veteran Bill McGee as he reflects on his experiences in Vietnam.

On Jan. 17th, 1969, Bill McGee was 10 months into a deployment in Vietnam when his life changed forever: during a battle in the Ben Cat district, he jumped out of his armed personnel carrier directly onto a land mine. The explosion cost him one of his legs, and after receiving the last of three Purple Hearts during all the action he had endured, Bill was sent home and received an artificial leg.

Like so many Vietnam veterans, Bill didn't receive a hero's welcome, but a feeling of rejection as he reintegrated into American society, only adding to his pain. However, through embarking on a journey of faith and learning to share his story, Bill discovered healing and wholeness.

During Bill's time in Vietnam, he took hundreds of photos with a Kodak 126 Instamatic camera. Half a century later, over 800 of those photos have been brought to life thanks to a partnership with friend and avid photographer Lloyd Smith. The photos and the response to them have helped speed up his emotional healing process and serve as a reminder of a pivotal time in his life.

To see his 1968 photos, as well as other wartime memorabilia, go to https://photos.app.goo.gl/ygdZSsOEM84kt4P83.

If you are a Vietnam Veteran, and have pictures you would like to share, please send to Lloyd Smith at [email protected]

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

On Jan. 17th, 1969, Bill McGee was 10 months into a deployment in Vietnam when his life changed forever: during a battle in the Ben Cat district, he jumped out of his armed personnel carrier directly onto a land mine. The explosion cost him one of his legs, and after receiving the last of three Purple Hearts during all the action he had endured, Bill was sent home and received an artificial leg.

Like so many Vietnam veterans, Bill didn't receive a hero's welcome, but a feeling of rejection as he reintegrated into American society, only adding to his pain. However, through embarking on a journey of faith and learning to share his story, Bill discovered healing and wholeness.

During Bill's time in Vietnam, he took hundreds of photos with a Kodak 126 Instamatic camera. Half a century later, over 800 of those photos have been brought to life thanks to a partnership with friend and avid photographer Lloyd Smith. The photos and the response to them have helped speed up his emotional healing process and serve as a reminder of a pivotal time in his life.

This episode features a two-part conversation between Kevin Weaver of The Warrior's Journey, photographer Lloyd Smith, and veteran Bill McGee as he reflects on his experiences in Vietnam.

To see his 1968 photos, as well as other wartime memorabilia, go to https://photos.app.goo.gl/ygdZSsOEM84kt4P83.

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.

Aimee Crane-Blake, a former U.S. Army Chaplain whose father and husband also served as chaplains, has an incredibly unique perspective gained from her experiences. In Part 2 of a powerful discussion with Kevin Weaver of The Warrior's Journey, Aimee dives deeper into her personal experiences with devastating grief and loss with inspiring grace and vulnerability. Lean into this powerful conversation and discover encouragement and hope beyond the valleys of this life!

Find more information online at https://www.thewarriorsjourney.org/podcast.