This week, I sat down with Tony Miltenberger—executive coach, author, veteran, pastor, and founder of Follow to Lead Coaching—to talk about a pairing of words we don’t often think belong together: wisdom and wounds.

Tony shares how his Army and pastoral experiences revealed that our deepest wounds can become the very places where God brings our greatest wisdom. We talk about:

• Why prolonged stress can turn small “cracks” into overwhelming “canyons.”
  
  
• How to recognize emotional triggers as signals pointing back to wounds.
  
  
• A practical tool—Tony’s Emotional Intensity Scale—to identify when your wound is speaking louder than the situation.
  
  
• How our children’s wounds can become gifts if guided with empathy and curiosity.
  
  
• Why redemption means our brokenness doesn’t define us—it can refine us.

This conversation is full of stories, grace, and practical encouragement for anyone navigating parenting, leadership, or just everyday life.

Resources Mentioned:

• Tony’s book: Wisdom in the Wound