Drive On: Helping Veterans Navigate PTSD & Life After Military Service

Scott DeLuzio
  • 5.0 (93)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Are you a veteran struggling with PTSD, combat stress, or adjusting to civilian life? Tired of feeling isolated and unsure where to turn for support? You deserve solutions from mental health experts, veteran nonprofits, and fellow veterans who truly understand what you're facing. Each week, host Scott DeLuzio, an Army veteran and Gold Star Brother, shares interviews and practical steps to help you regain purpose, rebuild confidence, and thrive after military service. Find hope and take the next step forward.

  1. 1d ago

    Reset Your Brain Rebuild Your Circle

    Getting out of the military can leave a man with skills, drive, and discipline, while still feeling disconnected from everyone around him. This conversation cuts straight into that gap. Jason McNamara shares how a rough start, Navy service, veteran employment work, sales success, family pressure, and financial choices led him to build the No More 9 to 5 Club and Foundation. This episode is for the veteran who has ideas but no clear next step, who misses having the right people around him, or who knows he needs help but hates feeling like he has to ask for it. You will hear a grounded conversation about using military lessons in civilian life, protecting your circle, building real mentorship, and taking simple action when your head is crowded with old memories or new stress. The biggest takeaway is practical: write down what is good, spend time with better people, ask for help before life gets heavier, and remember that your service skills still matter. The conversation also covers veteran-focused resources, Mind Trainer Pro, free support options, entrepreneurship, and the kind of community that helps people move from stuck to steady. Timestamps: 00:01:27 - Choosing respect over old surroundings 00:04:12 - Leaving record-breaking sales for family 00:08:22 - Free veteran resources and real community 00:12:08 - From shower tears to coaching football 00:26:04 - The pen and paper reset Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 No More 9 to 5 Club Website: https://www.thenomore9to5club.org/ MindTrainer Pro Website: https://mindtrainer-pro.com Follow Jason McNamara on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNoMore9to5Club Follow Jason McNamara on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomore9to5club/ Follow Jason McNamara on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenomore9to5club Follow Jason McNamara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-no-more-9-to-5-club/

    Reset Your Brain Rebuild Your Circle

  2. Jul 28

    Veteran Stories That Break Isolation

    Taking off the uniform can leave a man wondering where he fits next. The rank is gone. The built-in mission is gone. The people around you may respect that you served, but they do not always understand what that service cost or why civilian life can feel so strange afterward. John Smith knows that feeling. After 20 years in the Marine Corps, retiring as a Master Sergeant, he had to face one of the hardest parts of transition: figuring out who he was without the uniform doing the talking for him. In this conversation, John opens up about identity after service, faith, family, divorce, deployments, pride, purpose, and learning how to ask for help instead of carrying everything alone. This episode also gets into why veteran stories matter. Through his podcast, The Unsung Veteran, John gives other veterans a place to talk about more than their MOS, rank, or years served. He wants to understand the person behind the service, including the struggles they still carry today. That includes PTSD, TBI, addiction, failed businesses, transition problems, VA struggles, and the search for meaning after the military. For any veteran who misses the camaraderie, feels disconnected from civilian life, or is trying to rebuild their sense of purpose around faith, family, and service, this conversation offers a reminder that the uniform may come off, but the mission can continue in a new way. And because no veteran conversation is complete without some humor, John closes with the call sign story he rarely tells and a nickname that followed him longer than he wanted. Timestamps: 00:04:08 - Why a fourth-generation Marine finally joined 00:12:29 - The hardest part of taking off the uniform 00:18:25 - Building a podcast around the person behind the veteran 00:27:59 - How veteran conversations helped him process old wounds 00:39:15 - The call sign story he rarely tells Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.theunsungveteran.com/

    Veteran Stories That Break Isolation

  3. Jul 21

    Veterans Flush Your Stash Find Purpose

    Addiction does not always arrive as a dramatic collapse. Sometimes it slips in through grief, depression, isolation, trauma, old friends, or the belief that one more time will not matter. For veterans carrying PTSD, transition stress, and family pressure, that danger can hit even harder. Marine Corps veteran Adan Castaneda shares a direct conversation about fentanyl awareness, sobriety, mental health, and rebuilding a life with discipline. He talks about his own struggles with PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction, and recovery, then lays out the tools he believes can help others protect their families and reclaim direction. The conversation covers cutting off drug contacts, changing daily habits, using fitness and nutrition to rebuild discipline, finding a fire team, using chess as a decision-making tool, and choosing purpose before destructive comfort. This is a hard-hitting episode for veterans, families, and anyone who needs a reminder that sobriety is a life-and-death fight, but it is also a path back to purpose, connection, and responsibility. Timestamps: 04:54 - Mental illness & addiction can feed each other 07:02 - The 2500 bucket list 15:32 - Flush your stash and cut contacts 17:47 - Become the guardian angel your family can count on 29:02 - 4 habits to help veterans stay alive Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://therecoveryprotocol.org/ Follow Adan Castaneda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adancastaneda/ Recovery.com: https://recovery.com You're My Strong Tower: https://youremystrongtower.com Chess.com: https://chess.com

    Veterans Flush Your Stash Find Purpose

  4. Jul 14

    Navy Veteran Finds Healing Through Comedy

    There's often pain behind the person who makes everyone laugh. TK Moyer shares what it was like to be separated from his family as a child, how he turned to humor when honesty felt risky, and how the Navy helped him find confidence and a new outlook. This conversation touches on something many veterans understand: the weight carried before service, the weight from service itself, and the challenge of holding it all in without burdening others. TK uses humor, poetry, and a belief in human connection, and he's learned that asking for help is an act of trust. He also talks about how his book, Survivor's Guilt: A Memoir In Verse, came from facing and writing through the hardest parts of his life, turning them into something meaningful. You'll hear how comedy can help people connect, how focusing on your breath can bring you back to the present, and why simply being there for someone can matter more than having the right words. Timestamps: 00:05:32 - The ten-minute poem 00:17:31 - When laughter became a way to survive 00:29:55 - How the memoir in verse took shape 00:32:30 - The breath that brought him back 00:37:53 - Why reaching out is never a burden Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Follow TK Moyer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tKeithm Follow TK Moyer on Instagram: https://instagram.com/tkmoyer88 Follow TK Moyer on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/tkmoyer88

    Navy Veteran Finds Healing Through Comedy

  5. Jul 7

    Veteran Food Assistance With Dignity

    Many military and veteran families are facing tough times. Groceries are more expensive, paychecks do not go as far, and reaching out for help can feel discouraging. This conversation addresses those challenges and offers hope for a better path. Vicki Sarracino, Vice President of Programs at Soldiers' Angels, explains how the group supports service members, veterans, and their families. They provide food distributions, food pantries, help at VA hospitals, hygiene kits, transportation, housing welcome kits, care packages for those deployed, and more. The main focus is dignity. Veterans are treated as individuals, not just numbers. They are recognized, valued, and supported by people who truly care. You will learn why even active duty families sometimes struggle with food insecurity, and how leaving military life can lead to isolation. Taking the first step to ask for help can lead to community, stability, and a new sense of purpose. There is also a real need for volunteers, businesses, and local communities to get involved, because their help makes a difference right away. Timestamps: 00:02:54 - Why Soldiers' Angels shifted to food first 00:06:55 - Veterans choosing between groceries, rent, medication, and gas 00:13:46 - The hidden struggle of military transition 00:21:47 - The veteran who came for food and found a connection 00:34:42 - Why asking for support is a strength Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.soldiersangels.org Follow Soldiers Angels on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoldiersAngelsOfficial Follow Soldiers Angels on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soldiersangelsofficial/ Follow Soldiers Angels on Twitter/X: https://x.com/soldiersangels Follow Soldiers Angels on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SoldiersAngelsOfficial Follow Soldiers Angels on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soldiersangels Follow Vicki Sarracino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-sarracino-3333671b7/ HUD VASH VA Homeless Programs: https://department.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash

    Veteran Food Assistance With Dignity

  6. Jun 30

    Why Veterans Need Their Tribe

    Some men leave the military and still notice the empty seat at the table. The mission has ended, the unit is no longer there, and civilian life often lacks the honesty they once shared with fellow service members. Historian and Marine veteran Bryan Rigg offers a unique perspective on this struggle. He draws from his research on World War II, Holocaust history, his time in the Marine Corps, and his efforts to save stories that might have been forgotten. He discusses unopened Iwo Jima records, German primary groups, the silence after war, and how veterans can lose their close circle of support when they come home. This conversation covers both battlefield history and the daily challenges veterans face after service. It offers veterans practical ideas for building connection, finding meaning, seeking therapy, learning from older veterans, supporting family, and making small check-ins that help them keep going. You will come away with a better understanding of why isolation is so hard, how to rebuild connections on purpose, and how sharing pain with the right people can help you heal. Timestamps: 00:01:38 - How a Marine veteran kept serving through history 00:06:45 - The World War II files no one had opened 00:11:00 - Primary groups and why men fight harder together 00:26:15 - Why veterans lose their tribe after coming home 00:46:15 - Finding the why that keeps a man moving forward Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.BryanMarkRigg.com Follow Bryan Rigg on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryanmarkrigg/ Follow Bryan Rigg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanmarkrigg/ Follow Bryan Rigg on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/bryanmarkrigg1 Follow Bryan Rigg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmarkrigg Follow Bryan Rigg on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClvYbh1DdUB-k5DBuQ_yFFw/videos

    Why Veterans Need Their Tribe

  7. Jun 23

    Why Veterans Miss The Chaos

    A solid transition plan does not guarantee a clean landing. Guest Taamir Ransome left the Army with advanced education, real-world experience, and a strong résumé, but he still felt the loss of identity, purpose, and daily mission after taking off the uniform. This conversation follows Taamir from joining the Army after 9/11, serving in the 82nd Airborne, moving into EOD, supporting special operations, and becoming the first Black Tier 1 EOD operator. From there, the focus turns to the part of service that follows veterans home: the pressure, the silence, the missing pack, and the struggle to explain combat stress to people who only know the military through movies. Taamir also breaks down ideas from his book Mind of a Soldier, including why the uniform is not your identity, why veterans need people who will call them out when they are slipping, why "thank you for your service" can shut down a better conversation, and why filing for benefits or walking into a VFW can be part of fighting for yourself. This episode gives veterans a practical reminder that help exists, but you may have to approach it the same way you approached the mission: gather information, find the right people, and take the next step. Timestamps: 00:07:13 - Transition looked strong, but still hit hard 00:11:53 - The uniform is not your identity 00:15:51 - Why veterans must fight for themselves 00:19:51 - Why PTSD may not explain everything 00:22:36 - Why combat can be hard to leave Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://blog.sixeight.io Follow Taamir Ransome on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ransomemindofasoldier Follow Taamir Ransome on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taamir-ransome

    Why Veterans Miss The Chaos

  8. Jun 16

    The Rebuilt Warrior Transition Blueprint

    Silence can linger long after a veteran has returned home and taken off the uniform. For Eric Gillis, one of the toughest challenges after leaving the Army was learning to function in a world without the structure, purpose, and brotherhood that once held everything together. He kept his inner struggles to himself, feeling he had no right to speak up because others had paid a higher price. That silence nearly cost him everything. This story follows Eric's journey through post-military chaos, hypervigilance, family struggles, therapy, and the moment a doctor said something that changed his path: "You can be better." From that point, Eric started rebuilding his life as a husband, father, teacher, author, and creator of The Rebuilt Warrior. He shares how veterans can turn their military strengths into civilian success, rebuild trust, take responsibility, find purpose, and create the structure they miss after service. What you’ll hear is a relatable message for veterans feeling stuck, ashamed, angry, isolated, or unsure of where they fit now. It’s a reminder that struggle doesn’t have to be the final chapter, and that a new mission can be built, one honest step at a time. Timestamps: 00:03:27 - Leaving military structure behind 00:06:25 - The night everything almost ended 00:12:27 - Turning private pain into Rebuilt Warrior 00:19:03 - Breaking down the STRUCTURE framework 00:37:30 - A message for veterans in silence Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.therebuiltwarrior.com Follow Eric Gillis on Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheRebuiltWarrior Follow Eric Gillis on Instagram: https://instagram.com/TheRebuiltWarrior

    The Rebuilt Warrior Transition Blueprint
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About

Are you a veteran struggling with PTSD, combat stress, or adjusting to civilian life? Tired of feeling isolated and unsure where to turn for support? You deserve solutions from mental health experts, veteran nonprofits, and fellow veterans who truly understand what you're facing. Each week, host Scott DeLuzio, an Army veteran and Gold Star Brother, shares interviews and practical steps to help you regain purpose, rebuild confidence, and thrive after military service. Find hope and take the next step forward.

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