Warriors Unmasked

What if the peace you've been searching for doesn't come from changing everything around you, but from changing the way you meet the world within you?

In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Tuss welcomes Regan Caruthers for a deeply reflective conversation about trauma, spiritual awakening, inner healing, and the courage to live from a place of love.

Regan's story began with a strong spiritual connection. As a young girl, she meditated daily, practiced Tai Chi, and learned about Divine Love and conscious thought. But as she grew older, she began looking for acceptance and safety by following conventional expectations. She built a successful career in Silicon Valley, married, and pursued the life she thought would bring fulfillment. Yet, beneath the appearance of success, she was struggling with unresolved pain and a deep sense of disconnection.

At 27, Regan experienced a spiritual awakening that reconnected her with a sense of Divine Love. But she shares an important distinction: an awakening alone did not transform her life. Lasting change began when she committed to the daily discipline of practicing what she had learned.

Today, Regan helps others develop a more intentional inner life through yoga, coaching, and practices designed to encourage self-awareness and healing. In this conversation, she explains how our past experiences can influence our reactions, why taking responsibility for our responses matters, and how simple practices like meditation, gratitude, and consciously connecting with love can create space between what happens to us and how we choose to respond.

Chuck and Regan also explore the importance of acknowledging our wounded inner selves with compassion, establishing consistent personal practices, and finding hope even when life feels overwhelming.

If you've ever felt stuck in old patterns, struggled with difficult relationships, or looked for happiness in external achievements, this conversation is an invitation to pause, reconnect with yourself, and consider a different way forward.

You don't have to change everyone around you to begin changing your own experience. Sometimes, the first step is simply learning to meet yourself and the world with more love.

Listen in and discover how small, intentional choices can help you reclaim your inner peace and begin living more authentically.

Guest Bio

Regan Caruthers is the founder of Aset Yoga Center and dedicates her life to teaching and helping people cultivate a more intimate and disciplined inner life. Her compassionate approach creates safe spaces for transformation and wellness through one-on-one coaching, yoga sessions, and her Ready to Awaken courses.

Regan's early life included daily meditation, Tai Chi, and teachings about Divine Love and conscious thought. After pursuing a successful career as a Silicon Valley corporate executive in the educational software industry, she began returning to the spiritual practices that had shaped her childhood.

Today, she shares what she has learned through her work with others and offers yoga classes to her community free of charge as an act of service. She is also the author of the memoir Tragic Magic.

Having recently moved back to Missouri from Santa Cruz, California, Regan continues to support others on their journeys toward greater self-awareness, healing, and personal growth. Above all, she cherishes her roles as a devoted wife to Jim and a loving mother to her sons, Connor and Ian.

You'll hear About

• The journey from fitting in to finding yourself: How Regan's search for acceptance led her away from the spiritual practices she knew as a child.

• A spiritual awakening that changed her perspective: The experience at age 27 that reconnected Regan with a profound sense of Divine Love.

• Why awareness alone isn't enough: How daily discipline and consistent practice became essential to creating lasting change.

• Learning to respond instead of react: How acknowledging our wounded inner selves can help us approach difficult relationships with greater compassion and clarity.

• Small practices that reconnect us with love: Practical ways to build moments of stillness, gratitude, and awareness into everyday life.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Warriors Unmasked: Introducing Regan Caruthers

01:30 – Growing Up With Meditation, Tai Chi, and Spiritual Awareness

03:45 – The Search for Safety, Acceptance, and Belonging

04:45 – A Spiritual Awakening at Age 27

06:00 – Forgiveness and Holding the Light in the Darkness

07:30 – Finding Inner Contentment Beyond External Circumstances

09:00 – Understanding Trauma and Our Wounded Inner Selves

10:00 – Regan's Loving Witness Practice

12:00 – Choosing Love in a World That Can Feel Overwhelming

14:30 – Taking Responsibility for Your Thoughts and Responses

15:00 – Becoming More Conscious of What You Consume

16:30 – Exploring Childhood Wounds and the Need for Inner Healing

17:00 – A Guided Practice to Reconnect With Love

19:00 – Building the Capacity to Respond With Compassion

21:30 – The Years Between Regan's Childhood and Spiritual Awakening

22:45 – Corporate Success, Relationships, and Searching for Fulfillment

24:15 – Why Daily Spiritual Practice Requires Discipline

27:15 – What Can Change When We Commit to Inner Work?

30:00 – A Story of Healing a Difficult Mother-Daughter Relationship

32:15 – What Happens When We Choose Love in Challenging Moments

33:30 – Regan's Life of Service Through Yoga and Inner-Life Practices

34:45 – Tragic Magic and Where to Connect With Regan

37:00 – Sharing the Message of Love With Others

38:45 – Finding Hope Through Nature and Gratitude

41:15 – Chuck's Reflections and Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck's challenge is to take your power back and be the love you are at your core, especially when it's most challenging.

It's easy to feel peaceful when life is going well and the people around us are treating us kindly. The real opportunity comes when we face frustration, conflict, disappointment, or circumstances we cannot control.

This week, take a moment to notice how you respond when something challenges your peace. Before reacting, pause and ask yourself:

Can I take a breath and create a little space before responding?

Can I acknowledge what I'm feeling without letting it dictate my next action?

Can I find one small way to respond with greater compassion, gratitude, or love?

You don't have to get it perfect. Start with one intentional decision, one small step, or one courageous action.

Your challenge is to practice being the love you want to experience in the world, especially when it takes the most effort.

If you take that step this week, Chuck would love to hear about it. Reach out through the links below and share your journey.

Connect with Regan Caruthers

• Website: https://regancaruthers.com/

• Substack: https://substack.com/@regancaruthers1

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regan.caruthers

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regancaruthers/

• Book: "Tragic Magic" available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Regan's website for additional information.

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

What happens when life looks successful on the outside, but your health is telling a very different story?

At 37, Tim James had a growing financial advisory business, a family, and what many people would consider a successful life. But behind the scenes, he was struggling with serious health issues, chronic stress, painful skin problems, and years of internal bleeding. A medical emergency during a trip to Peru became a frightening wake-up call, forcing him to confront just how much his health was affecting his life.

Then came an unexpected turning point.

In January 2011, Tim accompanied his friend Charles to the Hippocrates Wellness Center in Florida. What began as a trip to support a friend facing cancer became a life-changing experience that challenged everything Tim thought he knew about food, nutrition, and caring for his body. He returned home determined to make changes, eventually losing 42 pounds and seeing significant improvements in the health issues he had been experiencing.

Today, Tim is the founder of Chemical Free Body, where he shares his approach to natural energy, nutrition, and wellness through education, community support, and products such as Organic Energy Juice.

In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Tuss and Tim explore the relationship between physical health, mental well-being, stress, and the choices we make every day. Tim shares his personal story, explains why he believes small lifestyle changes can create momentum, and encourages listeners who feel exhausted or discouraged to take ownership of their next steps.

This conversation also offers an important reminder: when you're struggling, you don't have to figure everything out at once. You can start small, ask questions, seek support, and take one step toward feeling better.

You're not alone, and your next chapter can begin with one intentional choice.

Listen in and discover how Tim's journey challenged his understanding of health, purpose, and what it means to reclaim your energy.

Please note: Tim shares his personal experiences and opinions about health and nutrition. His statements are not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Guest Bio

Tim James is the founder of Chemical Free Body, a wellness business focused on natural energy, nutrition, and helping people make more informed choices about their health. His own health struggles, including significant weight gain, persistent skin problems, gastrointestinal issues, and an emergency surgery during a trip to Peru, became the catalyst for a major lifestyle change.

In 2011, Tim attended the Hippocrates Wellness Center in Florida with his friend Charles. The experience changed his perspective on nutrition and personal wellness and inspired him to share what he had learned with others.

Through Chemical Free Body, Tim offers wellness education, community support, and products including Organic Energy Juice. His mission is to help people who are struggling with low energy and health challenges take practical steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

You'll hear About

• The wake-up call that changed everything: How Tim's health struggles and a medical emergency in Peru forced him to reconsider the way he was living.

• The connection between stress and well-being: Why Tim believes the choices we make every day can affect how we feel physically and emotionally.

• A turning point in Florida: How accompanying his friend Charles to a wellness center changed Tim's understanding of nutrition and lifestyle.

• Taking ownership of your health: Tim's perspective on asking questions, finding the right support, and becoming an active participant in your own wellness journey.

• Starting with small, intentional changes: Practical ideas Tim discusses around food choices, hydration, community, and building healthier daily habits.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Warriors Unmasked: Introducing Tim James

01:30 – The Ripple Effect: Using What We Learn to Help Others

04:45 – When Success Doesn't Mean Good Health

07:00 – Living With Pain, Stress, and Ongoing Health Challenges

09:15 – A Medical Emergency During a Trip to Peru

11:00 – What Tim Learned From His Health Crisis

13:15 – Exploring the Relationship Between Physical and Mental Well-Being

19:00 – Returning to Nature and Rethinking Everyday Food Choices

20:15 – A Friend's Cancer Diagnosis Becomes a Turning Point

22:00 – The Wellness Center Experience That Changed Tim's Perspective

29:45 – The Moment Tim Began to See Health Differently

31:45 – The Changes Tim Says Transformed His Own Health

34:45 – Why Physical and Mental Well-Being Are Connected

37:30 – Rethinking Hydration and Everyday Choices

38:00 – Tim's Approach to Choosing Food and Understanding Ingredients

40:30 – Farmers' Markets, Homegrown Foods, and Community Agriculture

43:15 – Tim's Three-Part Approach to Wellness

44:00 – Where to Find Tim James and Chemical Free Body

47:00 – Finding Support, Guidance, and Community

48:00 – A Message of Hope for Anyone Who Is Struggling

51:30 – Chuck's Reflections and Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck challenges us to take an intentional step toward becoming healthier mentally, physically, and spiritually, starting with our diet.

You don't have to change everything overnight. Choose one meaningful action you can take this week. Maybe it's paying closer attention to your food choices, making time to prepare a nourishing meal, or becoming more intentional about a daily habit that supports your well-being.

The important thing is to begin.

Your challenge: Choose one small step toward better health and follow through on it this week.

If you take action, Chuck would love to hear about your experience. Reach out through the links in the show notes and share your journey.

Connect with Tim James

• Website: https://chemicalfreebody.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551031295759

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemicalfreebody

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chemicalfreebody

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

Sometimes, the hardest journey isn't finding your way through the world. It's finding your way back to yourself.

In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Tuss welcomes Nicole Kranz, a Brazilian-born, Geneva-raised writer whose life has taken her across the world. Behind her international background and confident personality is a deeply personal story of family struggles, destructive relationships, and the long process of learning to respect herself.

Nicole opens up about growing up in a complicated family environment, struggling to understand her emotions, and carrying painful patterns into adulthood. She shares how an unhealthy relationship with her mother influenced her understanding of love and relationships, and how her marriage later forced her to confront just how much of herself she had lost.

After years of emotional turmoil, manipulation, and isolation, Nicole began to recognize the patterns she needed to break. Leaving her marriage was not an easy decision, but it marked the beginning of a long journey toward healing, rebuilding her identity, and learning to trust herself again.

One of the most moving parts of Nicole's story is her eventual reconciliation with her mother. In their final months together, Nicole experienced a moment of forgiveness that helped her understand their relationship in a new way. Her story offers a thoughtful reminder that healing doesn't always mean changing the past. Sometimes, it means finding a different way to understand it and deciding what you will carry forward.

Nicole also discusses her book, This Is Bullsht, Not a Love Story*, which explores psychological abuse, coercive control, and the struggle to reclaim yourself after a destructive relationship. She shares why self-respect matters, how our early experiences can shape what we accept from others, and why taking even one small step toward help can change the direction of your life.

Whether you've experienced an unhealthy relationship yourself or want to better support someone who may be struggling, this conversation invites you to listen with compassion, trust your instincts, and remember that you deserve relationships built on respect.

You are allowed to choose yourself. You are allowed to set boundaries. And you are allowed to build a different life.

Guest Bio

Born in Brazil and raised in Geneva, Nicole Kranz has lived in Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, and Lisbon. Multilingual and largely self-taught, she has worked in journalism, communications, and coaching before turning fully to writing.

Her novel This Is Bullsht, Not a Love Story* explores psychological abuse, coercive control, and the struggle to reclaim oneself after a destructive relationship. She is also the author of In My Mother's Skin, a novel exploring the fragile and complicated bond between mother and daughter. Across her work, Nicole examines identity, vulnerability, resilience, and the relationships that shape, challenge, and sometimes transform our lives.

You'll hear About

• How childhood family dynamics can influence our understanding of love, relationships, and self-worth.

• Nicole's experience in a destructive marriage and the gradual process of recognizing manipulation and unhealthy patterns.

• Why self-respect, personal boundaries, and learning to say no are essential parts of rebuilding your life.

• How Nicole found a path toward forgiveness with her mother while reaching a different understanding of her relationship with her ex-husband.

• Why asking for help, trusting your instincts, and taking one small step can begin the journey toward safety and healing.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Warriors Unmasked: Nicole Kranz's story

02:00 The person behind the strong exterior

04:00 Breaking patterns and beginning the healing journey

06:00 Childhood, family dynamics, and the search for love

11:30 Learning to understand emotions and communicate

12:30 Forgiveness and a meaningful final chapter with her mother

17:30 From an unhealthy family dynamic to a destructive marriage

23:45 Recognizing manipulation and psychological abuse

27:45 Finding the courage and support to leave

30:15 Taking the first step toward safety and a different life

34:15 The story behind This Is Bullsht, Not a Love Story*

36:00 Rebuilding self-respect and learning to say no

37:45 Small steps toward freedom, peace, and healing

41:15 Nicole's message to someone in a toxic relationship

44:30 Chuck's Challenge: Learn and grow from life's difficult situations

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck's challenge is to dig a little deeper into the situations you're experiencing in your life, look for what you can learn and how you can grow, and take action.

As you reflect on Nicole's story, consider a situation in your own life that may be teaching you something important. Is there a pattern you need to recognize? A boundary you need to establish? A conversation you've been avoiding? Or a small step you could take toward a healthier future?

You don't need to figure everything out today. Start by being honest with yourself about what you're experiencing and what you need.

One small, intentional decision can be the beginning of meaningful change. If you take that step this week, Chuck would love to hear about it.

Connect with Nicole Kranz

• Website: https://www.nicolekranz.com/en

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nic_kranz/?hl=en

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

What happens when the game you love becomes one of the hardest places to navigate your mental health?

In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Tuss sits down with Nolan Boyd, former junior hockey goaltender and Lead Goaltending Instructor at Armour Goaltending in Toronto, to talk about the struggles that can happen behind the scenes in sports.

Nolan grew up loving hockey. From getting his first set of goalie equipment as a young kid to representing his province and pursuing junior hockey, the game was a huge part of his life. But when things didn't unfold the way he had hoped, the pressure, disappointment, and challenges away from the rink began to take a toll. He found himself struggling in silence, unsure how to ask for help while trying to maintain the image others expected of him.

Nolan opens up about the difficult years that followed, the moment he realized something needed to change, and the decision to share his mental health story publicly. That decision led to his Saves for Life campaign, which raised more than $6,000 for a suicide prevention center through donations for every save he made during the season.

Today, Nolan is using his experience to help create a healthier culture in hockey and provide young athletes with a safe place to grow, learn, and talk about what they're going through.

In this honest conversation, Chuck and Nolan explore the pressure athletes face, the importance of speaking up, and why asking for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. They also discuss vulnerability, finding purpose through difficult experiences, and the difference one conversation can make when someone feels alone.

Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to struggle in silence. You are allowed to ask for help, and you don't have to walk through the hard parts of life alone.

Guest Bio

Nolan Boyd is a former junior hockey goalie and the Lead Goaltending Instructor at Armour Goaltending in Toronto. Drawing on his own experiences with mental health challenges, Nolan is committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of athletes. His mission is to help build a positive culture around sport where young people feel supported, safe, and empowered to become the best versions of themselves.

You'll hear About

• The pressure young athletes face and why the mental side of sports deserves as much attention as physical performance.

• Nolan's experience with mental health struggles during his junior hockey years and why he found it difficult to ask for help.

• How sharing his story publicly helped him find purpose and build a sense of community.

• The Saves for Life campaign that raised more than $6,000 for a suicide prevention center.

• Why vulnerability, reaching out, and having someone you can call in a difficult moment can make a meaningful difference.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Warriors Unmasked: Nolan Boyd's story

02:00 Building a healthier culture in hockey

04:00 The pressure facing young goaltenders

06:30 Falling in love with hockey and the early years

10:30 Junior hockey, unmet expectations, and the start of the struggle

14:00 Why asking for help felt difficult

16:30 Struggling in silence and turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms

21:30 A turning point and the decision to share his story

23:00 Saves for Life: Turning personal pain into purpose

27:30 Life today, vulnerability, and continued growth

33:00 A message for athletes who are struggling

34:45 Chuck's Challenge: Keep polishing your purpose

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck's challenge is to continue polishing your purpose and show up as the best version of yourself day in and day out.

As you reflect on Nolan's journey, ask yourself: What gives your life meaning? What is one small, intentional step you can take this week to live more closely in line with that purpose?

You don't have to change everything at once. Start with one decision, one action, or one conversation. And if you take that step, Chuck would love to hear about it.

Connect with Nolan Boyd

• Website: https://www.armourgoaltending.com/

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armourgoaltending/

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

For most of his early life, Randy Lyman relied on logic, discipline, hard work, and achievement. As a physicist, engineer, and founder, that approach worked—at least on the surface.

But underneath the success was something Randy had deliberately shut down: his emotions.

A deeply personal breakthrough at age 28 forced Randy to confront emotional wounds he had spent years suppressing. What he discovered changed not only his personal relationships, but also the way he approached business, leadership, decision-making, and his own life. He began to see that the emotional patterns we avoid don't simply disappear—they can continue influencing how we communicate, lead, respond to people, and experience the world.

In this conversation with Chuck Thuss, Randy shares what happened when he finally began addressing those patterns, why blaming others can keep us stuck, how unresolved emotions can continue showing up in different forms, and a practical four-column exercise he uses to begin uncovering what's really underneath a problem.

This is a conversation about emotional awareness, personal responsibility, intuition, healing, and learning to become a more complete human being.

Guest Bio

Randy Lyman is a physicist, engineer, founder, author, and coach who spent much of his early life operating almost entirely from logic and analytical thinking. After a personal emotional breakthrough at age 28, he began a decades-long journey of understanding the relationship between emotions, leadership, relationships, and personal success.

As Randy began doing his own emotional healing work, his businesses grew more than 30x. Today, he works with founders, executives, and high performers who have achieved success but recognize that something deeper may still be affecting their lives.

Randy is also the author of The Third Element and the Emotional Healing Workbook, where he shares lessons and practical approaches drawn from his own experiences.

You'll hear About

• Why Randy learned to shut off his emotions—and how that helped him succeed while also holding him back

• The emotional breakthrough that changed the way he approached his business and relationships

• How unresolved trauma can influence our reactions, relationships, behaviors, and decision-making

• Why taking responsibility is different from blaming yourself or others

• Randy's four-column exercise for uncovering the emotions underneath a problem

Chapters

00:00 – Randy Lyman: From physicist and engineer to emotional healing

02:30 – How emotional suppression became part of Randy's success

04:30 – Why men learn to shut down emotion

07:00 – Finding balance between strength and emotional connection

09:00 – Purpose, spirituality, and listening for guidance

11:30 – What it actually means to feel emotional pain

15:00 – The breakthrough that changed Randy's business

17:00 – Learning to distinguish emotion from intuition

20:00 – The inner child, creativity, joy, and connection

23:00 – Why emotions have to be felt in the body

26:00 – When old emotional patterns keep coming back

29:30 – Randy's four-column exercise for uncovering what's underneath

33:00 – Moving from blame to personal responsibility

36:00 – What happens when we continue avoiding trauma

39:00 – What can be on the other side of emotional healing

42:30 – Randy's books and resources

46:15 – Randy's message for anyone struggling to begin

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck's challenge is to look at one pattern that keeps showing up in your life and get curious about what might be underneath it.

Instead of immediately blaming the person, situation, or circumstance, take some time to ask: What is this bringing up in me? What emotion is underneath my reaction? What might I need to acknowledge or work through?

You don't have to solve everything at once. Start by being willing to look.

Connect with Randy Lyman

• Website: https://randylyman.com/

• Meta: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566555115024

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrandylyman/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamrandylyman/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamrandylyman

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamrandylyman

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

What happens when the thing you thought defined you is suddenly taken away?

For Athena Brownson, professional skiing was more than a career. It was her identity, her passion, and the center of her life. But after nine knee surgeries and two neck operations, she eventually had to confront a reality she never imagined: skiing could no longer be her future.

That transition forced Athena to figure out who she was beyond being an athlete. She began exploring new interests, returned to school, and eventually found her calling in real estate. But just as she was building a career she loved, another major challenge arrived. After her second neck surgery, Athena developed debilitating symptoms and was eventually diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. For more than eight years, she battled severe fatigue, pain, neurological and other symptoms while continuing to build her real estate career.

In this episode, Athena opens up about the mental side of injuries, the pressure to constantly perform, the dangers of pushing yourself beyond your limits, and the importance of purpose when you're going through adversity. She also shares how learning to ask for help, delegate, accept support, and take care of herself changed the way she approached both business and life.

Her story is a reminder that resilience doesn't mean pretending everything is okay. Sometimes resilience means showing up in whatever way you can that day—and recognizing that as a win.

Guest Bio

Athena Brownson is a former professional skier who endured nine knee surgeries and two neck operations before transitioning into a successful career in real estate.

Over the last decade, Athena has become one of Colorado's trusted and top-performing REALTORS®, combining market knowledge, negotiation skills, and a creative eye for design. Her own experience as an athlete taught her discipline, determination, and resilience—lessons she now brings to her work with clients and other professionals.

Athena's journey took another difficult turn when she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. Despite debilitating symptoms that lasted for years, she continued building her business while learning new lessons about balance, asking for help, managing her energy, and caring for herself.

Today, Athena is passionate about real estate, mentoring others, and sharing the lessons she's learned about overcoming setbacks, finding purpose, and continuing to show up when life doesn't go according to plan.

You'll hear About

• The mental and emotional toll of nine knee surgeries and two neck operations

• How Athena navigated the identity crisis that followed the end of her professional skiing career

• Her eight-plus-year battle with chronic Lyme disease and how purpose helped keep her moving forward

• Why learning to ask for help and delegate became essential to her recovery and business

• The resilience, perspective, and tools Athena uses to keep showing up through adversity

Chapters

00:00 From Professional Skier to Real Estate Professional

04:30 The Mental Toll of Injury and the Importance of Purpose

08:30 Nine Knee Surgeries and Learning to Get Back Up

13:30 Finding Identity After Professional Sports

19:00 Discovering a New Path and Building a Career

23:30 The Addiction to Achievement and the Search for Balance

29:00 Burnout and Learning That More Isn't Always Better

35:00 The Onset of Chronic Illness

40:00 Fighting Chronic Lyme Disease While Building a Business

43:30 Learning to Ask for Help and Accept Support

47:00 Finding Joy and Turning the Corner

50:00 Athena's Message for Anyone Who Feels Like Giving Up

54:00 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck is challenging himself—and all of us—to use resilience as a cornerstone to get up and show up every day, both for ourselves and for others.

It doesn't have to be a huge step.

As Athena explains, there may be days when simply getting from the bed to the couch is an accomplishment. The goal isn't to compare your progress to someone else's. It's to show up as the best version of yourself that you can be that day and recognize that as a win.

One small step. One intentional decision. One courageous action can change the direction of your life.

Connect with Athena Brownson

• Website: https://athenabrownsonrealtor.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor_/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenabrownsonrealtor/

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

What happens when you stop running from the things that hurt you and finally turn around to face them?

At just 20 years old, Lawrence C. Harris has already lived through severe bullying, childhood abuse, mental health challenges, and experiences that forced him to grow up much sooner than he should have. For years, the effects showed up in ways he didn't always recognize, from emotional distance and unhealthy relationships to spending hours behind a screen simply to avoid being alone with his thoughts.

In this episode, Lawrence joins Chuck to share how therapy, journaling, honest self-reflection, and learning to sit with uncomfortable emotions helped him begin working through his past instead of continuing to run from it. He opens up about setting boundaries with his father, learning to forgive without allowing someone back into his life, and recognizing the difference between who he used to be and who he is choosing to become.

Lawrence also challenges us to look at the ways we distract ourselves from what may be happening beneath the surface. His message is especially powerful for young people, but it applies at any age: you cannot change what happened to you, but you can decide what you do with your life from here.

Guest Bio

Lawrence C. Harris is a youth speaker who helps teens and young adults believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and make better choices.

Growing up, Lawrence faced serious challenges including mental health struggles, bullying, childhood abuse, and autism. Those experiences inspired him to begin speaking so other young people would know they are not alone and understand that their past does not have to determine where their life goes.

Today, Lawrence shares the lessons and tools that helped him move forward, encouraging young people to take ownership of their future, work through difficult emotions, and believe that their lives can get better.

You'll hear About

• How bullying and childhood abuse affected Lawrence's mental health at a young age

• Why journaling and therapy became important parts of processing his past

• How distraction can keep us from recognizing what we are really trying to avoid

• Why forgiveness does not mean excusing someone's behavior or removing your boundaries

• How to separate who you used to be from the person you are choosing to become

Chapters

00:00 Lawrence's Mission to Help Young People

02:30 Growing Up With Bullying and Abuse

05:15 Accepting What Happened and Taking Ownership of His Future

09:45 Therapy, Journaling, and Working Through Trauma

16:00 The Light at the End of the Tunnel

19:15 What Happens When We Keep Running From Our Pain

23:30 Are You Having Fun or Avoiding What You Feel?

28:45 The Moment Lawrence Knew Something Had to Change

32:00 Leaving the Old Version of Yourself Behind

37:00 Forgiveness Without Sacrificing Your Boundaries

43:00 Taking Back Ownership of Your Life

47:00 What Lawrence Would Say to Someone Who Feels Stuck

53:00 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck is taking Lawrence up on one of the most practical ideas from their conversation: sit in silence for one full hour and pay attention to what comes up.

No phone. No television. No music. No distractions.

Instead of immediately reaching for something to fill the silence, notice your thoughts. What keeps coming up? Is there something you've been avoiding, suppressing, or distracting yourself from?

Chuck's challenge is not just to notice it, but to identify something that needs your attention and begin working through it.

Connect with Lawrence C. Harris

• Website: https://www.lawrencecharris.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrencec.empowers

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

What if some of the beliefs shaping your life aren't actually yours?

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Mike Fortunato worked as a board-certified anesthesiologist. From the outside, he had what many people would consider success: a respected career, financial stability, a wife, children, and a beautiful life. But underneath it all, Mike was struggling with depression, alcohol, anger, emotional disconnection, and a growing sense that something was missing.

In this episode, Mike joins Chuck to unpack what happened when he finally started looking beneath the surface. He shares how medicine taught him to push emotions aside, how negative self-talk contributed to one of the darkest periods of his life, and the simple practice that helped him begin changing the way he thought about himself.

Together, Chuck and Mike explore the beliefs we inherit, the patterns that keep repeating until we're willing to face them, and why healing sometimes begins by questioning the story we've been telling ourselves for years. Because success on the outside means very little if we never find peace on the inside. Guest Bio

Dr. Mike Fortunato spent nearly two decades in conventional medicine, ultimately working as a board-certified anesthesiologist trusted with life-or-death decisions every day. But behind the successful career, his own physical and emotional health was quietly unraveling.

After experiencing chronic pain, shingles, a severe ulcer, hormonal issues, and a growing sense of disconnection from himself, Mike began looking beyond what conventional testing was telling him. Restoring his physical health was an important step, but he discovered that feeling better physically didn't address the deeper emotional patterns, beliefs, and unresolved issues he was carrying.

Today, Dr. Mike works with men and women at the intersection of biology, emotional health, identity, and overall well-being, helping people reconnect with themselves when they no longer feel like the person they once were.

You'll hear About

• Why external success didn't give Mike the fulfillment he expected

• How emotional suppression and alcohol became ways of coping with what he wasn't facing

• The repeating patterns and inherited beliefs that can quietly shape our lives

• How changing his daily self-talk helped Mike begin climbing out of depression

• Why vulnerability, self-forgiveness, and facing what we've avoided can create a different kind of peace

Chapters

00:00 Behind the Appearance of Success

05:30 Why Achievement Was Never Enough

09:30 Depression, Alcohol, and the Patterns We Carry

14:00 Why We Avoid the Things We Need to Face

16:30 The Power of Self-Talk and Changing the Mental Pattern

20:30 Mike's Journey Into Medicine and Emotional Suppression

25:30 Taking Back Ownership of His Mindset

31:00 Beliefs, Perspective, and the Power We Give Away

37:30 Vulnerability, Surrender, and Finding Peace

39:30 What Mike's Life and Work Look Like Today

44:30 Self-Forgiveness and Letting Go of What No Longer Serves You

48:15 What Mike Would Say to Someone Who Is Ready to Give Up

51:15 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck is challenging himself to identify one theme that keeps showing up in his life and lift the hood on it.

What pattern keeps repeating for you?

Instead of judging yourself or pushing it away, get curious. Where did it come from? Is the belief underneath it actually yours? Is it still serving you?

Pick one recurring theme and take one intentional step toward understanding it more deeply. As Chuck says at the end of this episode, one small step, one intentional decision, or one courageous action can change the direction of your life.

Connect with Dr. Mike Fortunato

• Website: https://www.optimizemd.health/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimizemd.drmike/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Optimizemd.drmike/

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

When thousands of people were running from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Michael Dorian made the decision to run toward it.

But Michael's story began long before that day.

Born into poverty to a teenage mother, Michael grew up in an unstable home and spent much of his early life searching for independence, acceptance, and belonging. As a teenager, that search led him into crime and prostitution and, at just 16 years old, an HIV diagnosis. But a relationship with someone who saw more in Michael helped change the trajectory of his life. He graduated high school, went to college, built a career as a veterinary technician, and began creating a very different future for himself.

In this episode, Neil Adams joins Chuck to share the extraordinary life of his close friend and the story behind his book, From the Pile. Neil recounts Michael's decision to put on his scrubs and make his way to Ground Zero on 9/11, where he spent 24 hours on the pile helping firefighters continue their rescue efforts. Years later, Michael was diagnosed with stage four cancer and given two years to live, beginning another fight that would ultimately connect back to his service at Ground Zero.

Michael's story is complicated, deeply human, and ultimately one of perseverance. It reminds us that our beginnings do not have to determine where we end up, our mistakes do not have to become our identity, and we may never fully understand what another person has endured simply by looking at them. Guest Bio

Neil Adams is the author of From the Pile, the true story of his close friend Michael Dorian and a life shaped by adversity, friendship, service, and resilience.

Neil and Michael met in New York City and became close friends. After witnessing Michael navigate relationships, HIV, his service at Ground Zero, cancer, and countless personal challenges, Neil knew his friend's story deserved to be told. Before Michael's death in 2020, he gave Neil his blessing to write it.

You'll hear About

• Michael's difficult childhood and the experiences that shaped his early life

• The person who helped Michael leave prostitution and begin building a different future

• Why Michael put on his scrubs and headed toward Ground Zero on September 11th

• How his service on the pile would affect his life years later

• Why Neil believes Michael's perseverance and desire to help others deserve to be remembered

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Michael Dorian's Story

03:15 How Neil and Michael Became Friends

06:00 Michael's Childhood, HIV Diagnosis, and Early Struggles

10:15 The Person Who Helped Change His Life

18:15 College, Career, and a New Direction

24:30 Michael's Search for Love and Belonging

26:30 Running Toward Ground Zero on 9/11

29:45 Cancer and the Lasting Impact of the Pile

34:00 Michael's Final Years and Finding Love

39:15 From the Pile and Michael's Legacy

47:30 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

When you meet someone, you rarely know everything they've been through or what they may be carrying right now.

So this week, when someone says or does something that feels offensive or hurtful, Chuck challenges us to pause before reacting. Take a breath and remind yourself that this person may be dealing with something you know nothing about. Then give yourself permission to walk away rather than immediately responding.

Sometimes compassion begins with simply remembering that there is more to someone's story than what we can see.

Connect with Neil

• Website: https://www.readneiladams.com/about-neil-adams

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.

Nearly 25 years later, there are still stories from September 11th that many Americans have never heard.

Award-winning director and producer Michael Gier set out to tell those stories in his documentary, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph. Rather than focusing solely on the devastation of that day, Michael turns the lens toward the extraordinary courage, compassion, and resilience that emerged in the middle of it.

Michael joins host Chuck Thuss to share some of the lesser-known stories featured in the film, from previously homeless men helping injured Wall Street workers to the massive boatlift that evacuated more than 500,000 people from Manhattan. He also recounts the bravery of rescuers who refused to leave fellow first responders buried beneath the rubble, even when their own lives were at risk.

But this conversation isn't only about looking back. Chuck and Michael explore what September 11th can still teach us about moving through tragedy, showing up for one another, and making a difference in the lives of the people around us. You may never face a moment that makes history, but you still have the opportunity to be there for someone who needs you. Guest Bio

Michael Gier is an award-winning director and producer who has directed and produced hundreds of projects, including TV commercials, internet videos, corporate videos, short films, feature films, and documentaries through Gier Productions, LLC. In 2021, Michael released two award-winning films, Wounded Heroes and Healing the Heroes of 9-11.

His latest documentary, The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph, shares powerful and lesser-known stories of courage, heroism, and resilience surrounding September 11th. The film has already received multiple Best Documentary awards at film festivals, which Michael discusses in the episode.

You'll hear About

• Why Michael chose to tell a different side of the 9/11 story

• Lesser-known acts of courage and compassion that emerged from the tragedy

• The incredible rescue of more than 500,000 people from Manhattan by boat

• What survivors and first responders taught Michael about resilience

• How small acts of service can make an enormous difference in someone's life

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:45 Creating The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11

04:15 Finding Hope and Strength Within Tragedy

08:15 The Unsung Heroes and Stories Most People Never Heard

12:45 Extraordinary Acts of Service on September 11th

16:15 The Boatlift, Flight 93, and Stories of Courage

19:00 What Michael Learned About Heroism

22:15 The Lasting Impact on Survivors and First Responders

26:15 Remembering How America Came Together

29:15 Why Small Acts of Kindness Still Matter

31:15 Where to Watch the Documentary

32:30 What 9/11 Teaches Us About the Human Spirit

35:30 Chuck's Challenge

Chuck's Challenge

This week, Chuck challenges himself, and all of us, to find one or two ways each day to make a positive impact on someone else's life.

It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Open a door. Help someone who is struggling. Give something you have to someone who needs it. Reach out. Show kindness.

The stories in this episode remind us that we may not always realize how much a seemingly small action can mean to someone else.

Connect with Michael

• Film Website: https://heroismandresiliency.com/

• 9/11 Legacy Organization: https://the911legacy.org/award-winning-documentary-the-heroism-and-resiliency-of-9-11-from-tragedy-to-triumph-sets-hollywood-and-new-york-premiere-dates/

• Michael's Website: https://www.michaelgier.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_gier/

Connect with Chuck

• Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/

• Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked

Join the Warriors Unmasked community by subscribing to the show. Together, we're breaking stigmas and shining a light on mental health, one story at a time.