Some heroes don't wear capes—they open their garage doors.

Jason's bimonthly poker nights have become a sacred space for military personnel and first responders seeking something deeper than cards: genuine brotherhood.

Behind the camaraderie lies Jason’s own battle—his service in the Coast Guard exposed him to trauma that embedded deep, leading to PTSD, and later, injuries during his time in the Army. Like many who serve, he struggled with vulnerability—finding it harder to ask for help than to face danger. Trained to be strong and self-reliant, he wasn’t prepared for a life where even basic tasks required assistance.

A year into recovery and at the brink of ending his life, Jason made a life-saving call to a friend—an act of courage that sparked a mission. Now CEO of Alpha Ready Company, and Alpha Ready clothing brand, he uses his experience to build community and create safe, stigma-free spaces for healing.

As a Christian, husband, father, and Podcaster, he reminds others that strength isn't in silence, but in connection. His story proves that purpose can rise from pain—and that sometimes, the most powerful battles are fought not in uniform, but around a garage table filled with hurting heroes learning to heal.

Connect with Jason:

Instagram: alpha_ready_com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alphareadyco

Website: https://alphareadyco.com/

Order your Alpha Ready t-shirt today! 🇺🇸
Proudly Donating 25% of Monthly Earnings to
Military, Veteran & First Responder Charities

Connect with Jen:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/

YouTube: @ineedblue

Facebook: I Need Blue Podcast

Website: https://ineedblue.net/

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62R7ZEcZIp4gqtCVxgqRsv

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As a child, Adam watched police cars race past his window, dreaming of becoming an “ER car man.” That dream came true through military service and police work—until a call to Walmart on April 8, 2016, changed everything. Confronted by a woman with a hatchet, Adam made a split-second decision to use deadly force. Though cleared by investigators, the incident triggered a silent battle with PTSD. “I knew what I had done. I changed lives. I took her life, I changed my life,” he says.

What follows is a brutally honest account of self-destruction. Adam reveals how he drowned his trauma in alcohol, numbed himself through casual encounters, and pushed away those who cared about him. Most shocking is the institutional response—after years of exemplary service, his department issued a cease-and-desist order to stop speaking about his mental health and eventually terminated him. “I was completely ghosted by everybody,” Adam recalls.

After proper mental health treatment arranged by his sister, Adam returned to policing as a captain at a department that actively supports his mental health advocacy. He now works to shatter the stigma around first responder trauma through his organization.

Do you know someone struggling with invisible wounds? Adam's message is clear: healing is possible, help is available, and no one should suffer in silence.

Connect with Adam:

Website: StopTheThreatStopTheStigma.org

Email: adam@stopthethreatstopthestigma.org

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

When tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Laura—a licensed school psychologist—found herself on the front lines of grief and trauma. But amid the heartbreak, she witnessed something remarkable: therapy dogs offering comfort in ways words couldn't. That experience sparked the creation of Everyday Feathers Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting families facing canine cancer while promoting mental health through the healing power of dogs.

Laura's journey from educator to mental health advocate deepened her belief in the human-animal bond. "Dogs aren't just pets, they're family," she says, highlighting how they ease loneliness, provide comfort, and help ground us during emotional crises. Everyday Feathers Foundation grew from this understanding, creating a space where both people and their dogs receive care during life’s toughest moments. This conversation offers powerful insights into how love, resilience, and the presence of a loyal companion can light the way through darkness.

Connect with Laura:

Email: hello@everydayfeathers.org

Website: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/

Submit request for Broody Blessings: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/

Donate: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/donatenow

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935
Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Purchase my book or Audiobook:
https://whyisurvived.com/

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When the unthinkable happens without warning, how do we find our way through the darkness of grief? Diane’s world shifted forever when her husband Harry passed away suddenly in January, just days after returning from what would be their final vacation. What began as minor indigestion on a cruise excursion turned out to be something far more serious. Despite zip-lining and horseback riding without complaint, Harry was unknowingly living with three severely blocked arteries. His cardiologist would later say it was medically impossible for someone to function as he did.

In this emotional episode, Diane shares the raw details of Harry’s final moments—the collapse at home, the rush to the hospital, and the heartbreak of letting him go as their wedding song, Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are, played. She opens up about the different ways her family is navigating grief and reflects on their 41-year love story rooted in faith, laughter, and meaningful memories. Her words are a gentle reminder that while grief never fully disappears, it becomes something we learn to carry—with grace, faith, and unexpected moments of joy.

Connect with Diane:

Email:DZIZZO01@att.net

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

From Grief to Action: Honoring Claudia, Preventing Tragedies

When Tim and Melanie lost their 33-year-old daughter, Claudia, to a drunk driver on February 7, 2021, their world was shattered in an instant. Claudia, adopted as a teenager from Guatemala, was a vibrant part of their blended family—full of love, complexity, and growth. In the wake of unimaginable grief, Tim and Melanie chose not to be silent.

Supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), they turned their heartbreak into a mission. Remember for Change leads the charge in prevention through impactful education:

• Drunk buster goggles that simulate impairment
• Teen pledges to drive sober
• QR-coded coasters offering safe ride options
• Recognition for DUI enforcement heroes in local law enforcement

But their most touching initiative is the Annual Memorial Drive—a moving event where the community gathers to speak aloud the names of loved ones lost to impaired driving. It’s a moment of unity, healing, and powerful remembrance.

Contact with Tim and Melanie:

Email: RememberForChange@gmail.com

Website: https://www.rememberforchange.org/

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

What happens when you finally name the trauma that’s shaped your life?

Nicole’s powerful story of surviving childhood physical abuse reveals the journey from silence to truth. For 40 years, she carried the weight of her father’s violence—hit at age five, chased in fear, and witnessing her mother being choked—all while believing it was “normal.”

Even 1,100 miles away, a simple phone call from him could trigger panic. Her desperate need for his approval shaped her life—until she realized the cycle was repeating with her own child. Through therapy, breathwork, and courage, Nicole began connecting the dots and setting boundaries.

When she finally spoke out, her father denied the abuse and cut contact. The grief was real—but so was the freedom.

Nicole’s story is a raw and inspiring reminder: healing begins when we speak the truth.

Listen to her full journey on the I Need Blue podcast—where survivors reclaim their voice and power. Subscribe and join our community today.

Follow Nichole:

Facebook: @NicholeMarieCollective

Instagram: @NicholeMarieCollective

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

From childhood trauma to becoming a fierce protector of young girls, Shala’s journey is a testament to healing and purpose. After losing the grandmother who raised her, she was thrust back into chaos—pregnant at 14, trapped in abuse, and raising two children alone. Yet somehow, she graduated high school on time.

“How did I do it?” she wonders. Her answer: boundaries, self-love, and an unshakable will to break cycles.

Shala founded Treasure Coast Girls Coalition to be what she once needed—a safe, empowering space. Serving girls 9–18, TCGC offers more than programs. It gives sisterhood, hot meals, therapy access, STEM and culinary training, and most of all—hope.

“You weren’t supposed to survive, but you did,” she tells herself—and now 154 girls carry that same fire forward.

She wouldn’t change a thing about her past. Because from it, she built something life-changing.

Contact Shala:

Email: info@treasurecoastgirls.org

Phone: 772-202-8170

Address: 457 Sebastian BLVD, Suite A, Sebastian, FL 32958

Website: https://www.girlscoalition.org/

Donate now: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BR423KXFGNVRC

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

A single ride-along changed Jeff Otis’s life forever, launching a 26-year career in law enforcement marked by tragedy, trauma, and ultimately, profound healing. His journey began with heartbreak when a fellow officer and friend was killed during a routine call—while Jeff was still in training. From that moment, he lived under constant hypervigilance, navigating standoffs, officer-down situations, and countless traumatic crime scenes. Through raw, honest conversation, Jeff pulls back the curtain on the psychological price of protection, revealing how officers are taught to "suck it up" rather than heal.

When symptoms of PTSD finally surfaced—panic attacks, night terrors, debilitating headaches—Jeff tried to push through until a move to Vero Beach, Florida opened the door to real healing. Through community policing and innovative therapies like ketamine treatment and ceremonial plant medicine, he found freedom from decades of silent suffering. Jeff’s story shatters stereotypes about first responders, showing that seeking help isn’t weakness—it's strength. His journey is a powerful reminder that behind every uniform is a human being carrying extraordinary experiences, often without enough support.

Contact Jeff: jefferyotis@hotmail.com

Resources discussed in this episode:

Bella Vida Chapel Sacrament Ceremonies in Melbourne Florida

https://www.bellavidachapel.com

Emerald Health - Comprehensive Primary Care Medical Clinic in Vero Beach, FL

https://www.emerald-medical.com

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show