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  • The Stories We Carry - Part 3: Why Intervention May Beat Prevention for Veterans

    The Stories We Carry - Part 3: Why Intervention May Beat Prevention for Veterans
    2026/09/24
    PART 3 - SHOWNOTESMilitary Creator Con: "The Stories We Carry" seriesEpisode Title:Why Intervention May Beat Prevention for VeteransBrief summary of show:Veteran suicide prevention means catching the moments before a crisis, not just responding after one, and this conversation makes the case that prevention has to start while someone is still serving, not after they leave. If you have ever wondered what actually works beyond a hotline number, this panel names real, specific answers. Hosted by Sean Douglas, a 20 year Air Force veteran and suicide awareness prevention speaker who helped build the Army and Air Force Master Resilience Training program, this roundtable closes out with concrete prevention strategies from five people building them.Tony Ellsworth Williams of Veterans Counseling Veterans argues awareness has to begin before a service member exits the military, since the military culture itself, including promotion weigh-ins, often plants the seeds of later struggles. Leah Stiles of SEA WAVES proposes a DD 214 sponsorship model, pairing every transitioning veteran with someone who has already crossed over. Joshua Parish of VetLife explains why Vet Fest and the VA's Solid Start program represent an upstream approach to prevention. Sean Wyman shares the one question every transitioning veteran should be asked before a crisis hits. Dr. Keith Castille closes by reframing intervention as sometimes more honest than prevention, and by calling for real collaboration on how veteran nonprofit funding gets distributed.In this episode, you'll learn:Why prevention needs to start before a service member ever leaves the military, not after, according to Tony Ellsworth Williams.How military culture, including repeated weigh-ins for promotion, can quietly create the conditions for eating disorders, from Tony Ellsworth Williams.What a DD 214 sponsorship program could look like, pairing every transitioning veteran with someone further down the road, from Leah Stiles.Why suicide prevention needs an upstream model instead of a downstream hotline, and what Vet Fest and Solid Start are doing to build one, from Joshua Parish.What question every transitioning veteran should be asked before a crisis happens, "who are your first three calls," from crisis intervention specialist Sean Wyman.Why intervention, not prevention, may be the more honest starting point for veterans hitting an unexpected life transition, according to Dr. Keith Castille.Why veteran nonprofit funding needs real collaboration instead of competition to actually reach the ground level, from Dr. Keith Castille.We talk about:00:00:00 Why awareness has to start before leaving the military00:00:52 How military culture quietly creates eating disorders00:01:16 Why the elderly, families, and reservists get overlooked00:02:49 What it means to be accessible in a suicide crisis00:03:29 What a DD 214 sponsorship program could look like00:04:51 Why suicide prevention needs an upstream model00:05:59 What Solid Start does that most veterans never hear about00:06:53 What question to ask before a veteran hits crisis00:09:24 Is the perception of veterans as at risk overblown00:11:11 Should intervention come before prevention00:12:44 Why veteran nonprofit funding needs real collaborationIf you or someone you know is struggling, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, for free and confidential support. Learn more about each panelist and their organization below.United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line)Canada: 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988United Kingdom & Ireland: Samaritans: call 116 123 (free, 24/7)Australia: Lifeline: call 13 11 14New Zealand: 1737, call or textfindahelpline.com: verified helplines in 175+ countries, searchable by countryBefrienders Worldwide (www.befrienders.org)Connect with the panel:Sean Douglas, The Success Corps: www.thesuccesscorps.comJoshua Parish, VetLife: https://www.vetlifetoday.org/Tony Ellsworth Williams, Veterans Counseling Veterans: https://vetscounselingvets.org/Leah Stiles, SEA WAVES: https://sea-waves.org/Dr. Keith Castille, C2H LLC / Recurrent Military and Defense: https://recurrent.ioSean Wyman, Going Beyond The Call: http://www.seanwyman.com/
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    14 分
  • The Stories We Carry - Part 2: Breaking the Stigma Around Veteran Suicide

    The Stories We Carry - Part 2: Breaking the Stigma Around Veteran Suicide
    2026/09/17
    PART 2 - SHOWNOTESMilitary Creator Con: "The Stories We Carry" seriesEpisode Title:Breaking the Stigma Around Veteran SuicideBrief summary of show:Stigma around veteran suicide means the shame, silence, and cultural pressure that keep people in crisis from asking for help. If you have ever wondered why so many veterans and first responders suffer quietly instead of reaching out, this conversation names exactly why. Hosted by Sean Douglas, a 20 year Air Force veteran and suicide awareness prevention speaker who helped build the Army and Air Force Master Resilience Training program, this part of our larger roundtable discussion brings together five voices working on the front lines of veteran mental health.Joshua Parish of VetLife, who served in the initial invasion of Iraq, names the backwards resource model that expects veterans to find help instead of meeting them where they are. Dr. Keith Castille, a retired senior military officer now with Recurrent Military, breaks down why nonprofit funding flows to large organizations while grassroots groups doing the real work go underfunded. Tony Ellsworth Williams of Veterans Counseling Veterans explains why suicide prevention needs local, community level solutions, using his cigarette butt in a parade field analogy. Leah Stiles of SEA WAVES connects stigma to under-recognized issues like eating disorders. Crisis intervention specialist Sean Wyman closes with the disconnect he sees between veterans in crisis and a VA system that will not come to them. Every guest points to the same conclusion: stigma breaks through education, local action, and systems built to meet people where they are.In this episode, you'll learn:Why lack of education, not lack of care, is the root of stigma around veteran suicide, according to Leah Stiles.How the current VA resource model works backwards, expecting veterans to seek help instead of meeting them where they are, from VetLife's Joshua Parish.Why veteran nonprofit funding flows to large organizations while grassroots groups doing the ground level work struggle, according to Dr. Keith Castille.What the "cigarette butt in a parade field" analogy teaches about local versus national suicide prevention strategy, from Tony Ellsworth Williams.Why official suicide statistics may be undercounting the problem, and why data needs to be localized by age and circumstance, from Tony Ellsworth Williams.Why a VA case manager model built on outreach, not waiting, could close a major gap for veterans in crisis, from crisis intervention specialist Sean Wyman.We talk about:00:00:00 What contributes most to stigma around veteran suicide00:01:18 Why the military trains people not to ask for help00:02:43 What is a backwards veteran resource provision model00:05:30 Why veteran nonprofit funding favors big organizations00:06:30 The cigarette butt in a parade field analogy explained00:08:49 Are veteran suicide statistics actually accurate00:09:26 Why women veterans face a different kind of suicide risk00:09:55 How military and law enforcement culture shapes stigma00:11:16 Why VA case managers should reach out instead of waiting00:12:49 What happens when an agency fails to check on its ownIf you or someone you know is struggling, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, for free and confidential support. Learn more about each panelist and their organization below.United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line)Canada: 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988United Kingdom & Ireland: Samaritans: call 116 123 (free, 24/7)Australia: Lifeline: call 13 11 14New Zealand: 1737, call or textfindahelpline.com: verified helplines in 175+ countries, searchable by countryBefrienders Worldwide (www.befrienders.org)Connect with the panel:Sean Douglas, The Success Corps: www.thesuccesscorps.comJoshua Parish, VetLife: https://www.vetlifetoday.org/Tony Ellsworth Williams, Veterans Counseling Veterans: https://vetscounselingvets.org/Leah Stiles, SEA WAVES: https://sea-waves.org/Dr. Keith Castille, C2H LLC / Recurrent Military and Defense: https://recurrent.ioSean Wyman, Going Beyond The Call: http://www.seanwyman.com/
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    13 分
  • The Stories We Carry: A Roundtable on Suicide Awareness and Prevention

    The Stories We Carry: A Roundtable on Suicide Awareness and Prevention
    2026/09/10
    Suicide awareness and prevention means catching the moments before a crisis, not just responding after one, and this roundtable makes the case that stigma, isolation, and a backwards VA resource model are still getting in the way. If you're part of the military community, or you love someone who is, the statistics can feel abstract until it's someone you know. This conversation names what is actually driving suicide risk in that community: shame around asking for help, a system built for people to come to it instead of the other way around, and a culture that trains people to hide what they're carrying.Hosted by Sean Douglas, a 20-year Air Force veteran and suicide awareness prevention speaker who helped build the Army and Air Force Master Resilience Training program, this roundtable brings together Joshua Parish of VetLife, Tony Ellsworth Williams of Veterans Counseling Veterans, Leah Stiles of SEA WAVES, Dr. Keith Castille of C2H LLC and Recurrent Military, and crisis intervention specialist Sean Wyman of Going Beyond The Call. You'll hear why a Special Operations Foundation study found only one accredited veteran service officer for every 7,000 veterans, why Leah Stiles built the Need A Light campaign, and why Joshua Parish created Solid Start to check in with transitioning veterans three times in their first year. This one airs on World Suicide Prevention Day, and it closes with a simple ask: if someone came to mind while you listened, reach out to them today.In this episode, you'll learn:Why lack of education, not lack of care, is the biggest driver of stigma around suicide in the military community, according to Leah Stiles and Joshua Parish.How the current VA outreach model works backwards, expecting veterans to seek help instead of meeting them where they are, according to VetLife co-founder Joshua Parish.Why eating disorders are the second deadliest mental health condition among veterans, and why they rarely look the way people expect, based on Leah Stiles' firsthand experience.What the "one cigarette butt in a parade field" analogy teaches about why local, community-based intervention beats national suicide prevention campaigns, from Tony Ellsworth Williams.Why people trained for high-stress service become "masters of disguise," and the one question, who are your first three calls, that can interrupt a crisis, from Sean Wyman.Why intervention, not prevention, may be the more honest starting point for people navigating a hard transition, according to Dr. Keith Castille.What programs like Solid Start and Vet Fest are doing differently to close the gap between veterans and the resources meant to support them.We talk about:00:00 Introducing the roundtable panelists03:37 What fuels stigma around suicide in the military community05:58 What is broken in the VA's backwards resource model09:59 The one cigarette butt analogy for local suicide prevention13:40 Military and law enforcement culture around asking for help25:07 Why women veterans face a different kind of risk31:42 Why 30 percent of veterans struggle with eating disorders33:47 What the Need A Light campaign asks instead of are you okay49:10 What Solid Start and Vet Fest are doing differently53:43 Should intervention come before prevention59:11 What to do if someone came to mind while you listenedIf you or someone you know is struggling, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime; press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, for free and confidential support. Learn more about each panelist and their organization below.United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line)Canada: 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988United Kingdom & Ireland: Samaritans: call 116 123 (free, 24/7)Australia: Lifeline: call 13 11 14New Zealand: 1737, call or textfindahelpline.com: verified helplines in 175+ countries, searchable by countryBefrienders Worldwide (www.befrienders.org)Connect with the panel:Sean Douglas, The Success Corps: www.thesuccesscorps.comJoshua Parish, VetLife: https://www.vetlifetoday.org/Tony Ellsworth Williams, Veterans Counseling Veterans: https://vetscounselingvets.org/Leah Stiles, SEA WAVES: https://sea-waves.org/Dr. Keith Castille, C2H LLC / Recurrent Military and Defense: https://recurrent.ioSean Wyman, Going Beyond The Call: http://www.seanwyman.com/#SuicideAwarenessAndPrevention #MilitaryMentalHealth #SuicidePreventionAwarenessMonth #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #VeteranMentalHealth #MilitaryStigma #PTSDAwareness #VeteranSupport #MilitaryTransition #MilitaryCommunity #CrisisIntervention #VeteranWellness #988Lifeline #MoralInjury #VeteranAdvocacy #MilitaryCulture #EatingDisorderAwareness #VeteranPeerSupport #MilitaryCreatorCon #TheStoriesWeCarry
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    1 時間 5 分
  • The Army Didn't Save Him. It Activated Him

    The Army Didn't Save Him. It Activated Him
    2026/04/23

    Dr. JR McIntyre grew up navigating gang life in Long Beach and Compton, lost his mother to AIDS, and found himself cycling in and out of county jail, until the towers fell and everything changed. Three tours in Iraq and 55 months of combat later, he became the motivator he needed as a kid.

    This conversation goes deep on resilience, accountability, and why the military community has something powerful to say. Dr. JayR McIntyre is a motivational speaker, life coach, author of three books, and U.S. Army combat veteran with 14 years of service and three combat tours in Iraq, earning a Bronze Star.

    Known globally as Tha Hood Motiv8tor, he empowers youth, veterans, and entrepreneurs through raw storytelling, resilience, and practical mindset strategies. He is ranked among the Top 50 motivational speakers in the world, turning pain into purpose and adversity into impact.

    Social Links

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thahoodmotiv8tor/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@THAHOODMOTIV8TOR

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thahoodmotiv8tor/

    Website: https://www.thahoodmotiv8tor.com/

    Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thahoodmotiv8tor

    militarycreatorcon.com | April 16-18 | Arlington, TX
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    19 分
  • She Turned Her Story Into a Business Tool (And You Can Too)

    She Turned Her Story Into a Business Tool (And You Can Too)
    2026/04/22

    Jasmine Rush went from aviation crash and salvage on the USS Iwo Jima to building businesses, advocating for her son with special needs, and coaching others to turn their raw life experiences into content that converts.

    In this conversation, she breaks down why your story has a unique fingerprint and how to stop sitting on it. Jasmine Rush is a Navy Veteran, published author, media strategist, and Founder of Speaking From the Lens, a veteran-owned creative studio dedicated to capturing emotion and crafting legacy.

    She hosts the Rooted & Resilient Voices podcast and equips creators to transform lived experience into powerful, purpose-driven storytelling.

    Find Jasmine on Socials:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jazzy.speaksnow/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzy.speaks/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jazzy.SpeaksVA

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminerushva/

    Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jazzy.speaks

    Website: Www.sftlens.com

    Military CreatorCon 2026 | April 16-18 | Arlington, TX militarycreatorcon.com
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    28 分
  • From Fish Out of Water to Air Force Leader | Seung Paik

    From Fish Out of Water to Air Force Leader | Seung Paik
    2026/04/21

    Seung Paik didn't grow up dreaming of the military. He was a gymnast from Illinois who got recruited by the Air Force Academy. What made him stay? A philosophy class that asked a question he couldn't answer. In this Creator Conversation, Seung shares his 25-year Air Force journey, with Military Creator Con co-founder, Marah Lago on the economics-based leadership framework he developed called Leadernomics.

    As a military comptroller, he was the "CFO with body armor," overseas in Germany, Japan, and Korea, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Seung is an award winning educator and speaker, and is the author of Leadernomics. He has taught economics at the United States Air Force Academy and at the University of Colorado

    Social Links

    Facebook: https://facebook.com/leadernomics

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/leadernomics

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/leadernomics

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/seung-paik-leadernomics

    Website: leadernomics.org

    Catch Seung at Military Creator Con, April 16-18 in Arlington, TX.

    🎟️ https://www.militarycreatorcon.com/mcc-landing
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    30 分
  • Add Value or Add Chaos: Podcasting With Purpose

    Add Value or Add Chaos: Podcasting With Purpose
    2026/04/20

    Simona Costantini launched her podcast production agency in March 2021 and sold out in 72 hours. Now her award-winning team at Volt Productions helps creators turn their podcasts into marketing machines, even while they sleep.

    As the host of Happiness Happens and As It Relates to Podcasting, Simona blends mindset shifts with actionable strategies.

    Socials

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-costantini-25653a30/

    Website: https://simonacostantini.com/

    She's bringing the strategy playbook to MCC 2026.

    🎟️ militarycreatorcon.com | April 16-18 | Arlington, TX
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    11 分
  • Kitchen Table Conversations: Cooking Through the Hard Stuff

    Kitchen Table Conversations: Cooking Through the Hard Stuff
    2026/04/19

    Army veteran Cory Brown lost a close battle buddy to suicide. His co-host lost his mom. So they built a cooking show. Eat Your Feelings uses food, humor, and honest conversation to go places most creators won't. Cory's bringing that story to MCC 2026.

    Cory Brown is a U.S. Army veteran and the creator and host of Eat Your Feelings, a cooking and storytelling show that brings people together around food and honest conversation. After more than 16 years in the military, including a deployment to Iraq with a cavalry unit, Cory discovered that some of the most meaningful conversations happen around a kitchen table. Through his work, he uses cooking, humor, and storytelling to explore resilience, purpose, and connection.

    Socials

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EatYourFeelingsShow

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

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pcorybrown/

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatyourfeelingsshow

    Website: https://www.eatyourfeelingsshow.com/

    Catch Cory live at Military CreatorCon, April 16–18 in Arlington, TX.

    👉 https://militarycreatorcon.com
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    24 分