Indomitable Spirit; The Joy of Rebuilding a Life’s Purpose!
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Former Army medic Chris Swift has shared several podcasts with us. You will find his experiences leading up to this Friday August 12 episode on the podcast episode page of our webpage.Today we continue Chris’ transition experiences after his 55 month deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan serving as a combat medic. After years of punishing and unexpected reactions resulting in alcoholism, legal problems and other issues Chris acknowledged and sought out help for these reactions. Now participating in several veteran projects as a veteran or peer mentor Chris has found his life purpose as an official Veteran Peer Counselor in the VA Healthcare System. In this episode Chris shares the joy in life he has earned with indomitable spirit and courageous dedication to resolving the
experiences of transition!
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DISCLAIMER: The information and content shared in each episode of the Stigma Free Vet Zone are for informational purposes only. The Stigma Free Vet Zone hosts, Mike Orban and Bob Bach are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice mentioned or shared by Mike Orban and Bob Bach or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with a medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment discussed or shared on this podcast.
Former Tech Sergeant Rebecca Peasley is a Desert Storm Veteran. Having served with the Army National Guard, the Active Guard Reserve and Air National Guard Rebecca entered United States military service at the age of 30. Rebecca joined the military to better understand her husdband, a decorated combat infantry Vietnam veteran and his punishing challenges in transition.
Jason Katchenago left his tribal home looking for hope, purpose and work. After joining the United States Army he went on to serve tours in reconnaissance both in Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military Jason would experience difficult and punishing challenges in readjustment to civilian life. Jason explains the healing methods that have significantly helped in his transition. He has now found purpose for life and puts that passion into his foundation OP Oshkosh. Through his foundation of tribal veteran peer support Jason helps other tribal veterans find meaning in helping others in their tribal communities. Join us and hear this powerful, valuable and inspirational message!
Nancy Smith-Watson is an actor, a trauma informed somatic bodyworker and co-founder/director of Feast of Crispian (FoC). Ms. Smith-Watson has a BA in Drama from the University of Washington and did her professional training at Circle in the Square professional conservatory in New York City. While working as a professional actor, Ms. Smith-Watson also trained in massage and somatic bodywork therapies. She has 30 years experience as a Hakomi Bodyworker, and is trained in Integrative Somatics. Ms. Smith-Watson taught the Introduction to Somatics at Big Sky Somatic Institute, in Helena, MT, 1997 – 2004. In 2013, she received director training from Shakespeare & Co. and returned home to Milwaukee to launch Feast of Crispian – Shakespeare with Veterans. FoC has created workshops, classes and full theatrical productions with veterans, inside and outside of the VA in Milwaukee, for over a decade, and has collaborated with many other veteran’s organizations and theatrical institutions in the Milwaukee community.
Scott Schultz is a Marine Corps veteran who lives on a small farm near Osseo — in west-central Wisconsin’s northern Driftless Area. He retired last year from a long career in print and broadcast journalism. Twenty-one years ago, Scott and his wife, Dee, founded the educational nonprofit organization, The Heartbeat Center for Writing, Literacy and the Arts. The Heartbeat Center’s initial primary mission was to help people use creativity to find connections with the land and better understand their places in the world. Being a veteran, however, a large part of The Heartbeat’s work has been in its Veterans Expressing Themselves project — helping veterans to use writing and the arts to heal. Being a writer, Scott focuses his VETs project work on writing, as over the years he’s seen writing open doors for healing within many veterans — including himself.
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Jennifer Pankowski grew up in Milwaukee. She proudly served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 1992-1998, and was named Soldier of the Year for her battalion in 1994.
Dr. Michael Dailey is the co-founder of the Infectious Disease Society of Georgia and Co-President of the