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

Scott DeLuzio
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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. 6d ago

    When the War Follows You Home

    The battlefield can end while the consequences continue unfolding for years. Justin Morseth recounts serving as an infantry officer with the 3rd Infantry Division during the 2003 Iraq invasion. He describes the sandstorm that stalled their advance, the losses suffered before reaching the enemy, and the crossing at Objective Peach under artillery fire, heavy smoke, and confusion. Returning home brought a different struggle. Everyday civilian concerns felt difficult to understand, while memories of the invasion followed Justin into his career, marriage, and the birth of his first son. He explains how moral injury differed from the way he understood PTSD, especially as he considered the lives lost on both sides of the war. Justin also shares his experience with traumatic brain injury, seizures, and medical care. He recounts being dismissed as a drunk by a VA neurologist before his wife helped him obtain further testing that, according to Justin, showed damage to his brain. Treatment at After the Impact and prolonged exposure therapy with Dr. Heidi Knox pushed him to stop hiding behind anger and self-protection. Justin credits his willingness to become vulnerable with helping him reconnect with the person he wanted to be. That experience now informs his work with Pets Healing Vets. Created by his wife, Megan, the program works with the Hamilton County Humane Society to match veterans with shelter animals while covering food, veterinary care, and other expenses throughout the animal's life. Justin shares how one pit bull named Princess spent seven years in a shelter before being paired with a veteran who was also struggling. The moments below follow Justin's path from Objective Peach through moral injury, medical setbacks, vulnerability, and a new mission supporting veterans and shelter animals. Timestamps: 00:17:24 - Crossing Objective Peach Under Fire 00:23:22 - The Moral Injury Left Behind 00:25:01 - His Son Is Born and Trauma Surfaces 00:37:40 - Dismissed During a Medical Crisis 00:48:19 - Saving Lives at Both Ends of the Leash Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Follow on Facebook: https://facebook.com/justin.morseth https://facebook.com/flagsandfootballs Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbone1531 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-morseth

    When the War Follows You Home

  2. Sep 22

    Veteran Suicide Prevention Through Community

    Losing the structure and camaraderie of military life can leave a veteran feeling isolated even when everything appears normal from the outside. For Army veteran Sean Dillard, that disconnection lasted for years and eventually collided with an injury, heavy drinking, and a personal crisis that forced him to reconsider what purpose after service could look like. Sean shares how reconnecting with veterans through Rangers Row helped restore a sense of camaraderie, and how his service dog in training, Serenity, and his son Aiden became part of the story that followed. What began as an idea to row across the Pacific evolved into Oarsome Odyssey, a mission under the Southern Illinois Veterans Foundation centered on connection, purpose, and bringing veterans together. The conversation also gets practical. Sean explains why he believes ordinary, consistent contact can mean more than checking on someone only during a crisis. He discusses his own research into veteran suicide and community, while making clear that his conclusions come from his personal research rather than a cited academic study. He also encourages veterans who want to serve again to look at established groups such as the American Legion, VFW, DAV, and Rotary before starting another nonprofit. Along the way, Sean talks about the injury that ended his original rowing plan, breaking down in a Walmart while his young son reassured him, learning humility while preparing for endurance challenges, and reshaping Oarsome Odyssey around the Great Loop. For veterans trying to rebuild purpose, the conversation offers a grounded look at how connection, family, service, and belonging can provide a place to start. Timestamps: 00:02:51 - When Veterans Feel Invisible After Service 00:05:19 - Why Everyday Connection Beats Crisis Check-ins 00:09:57 - Injury Drinking and a Dangerous Personal Spiral 00:24:44 - Breaking Down While His Son Stood By Him 00:41:48 - Measuring the Mission by Lives Connected Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://OarsomeOdyssey.org

  3. Sep 15

    Finding Purpose Through Small Town Service

    What do you do when you leave the uniform behind, but still feel that sense of mission? In this episode, Dwight Boddorf talks about a journey that took many unexpected turns. He went from a tough beginning to joining the Marine Corps, and faced experiences that changed his life. Dwight shares moments that challenged him in ways he never saw coming, and explains how those struggles didn't end when his service did. We also talk about how a chance opportunity led Dwight to help other veterans find their way through a complex system. That work eventually brought him into a new kind of leadership. He also shares how military skills can be useful in unexpected places, even where you might not expect. This conversation is about resilience, purpose, and what it means to keep going when you're not sure what comes next. It's a story of finding your way again and realizing that your mission may still be ahead of you. Timestamps: 00:03:50 - Homeless at sixteen and joining the Marines 00:07:19 - The roadside bomb and injuries that followed 00:19:55 - Why Pennsylvania veterans face fragmented support 00:33:13 - Making decisions with incomplete information 00:41:40 - The mission continues after the uniform Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.dwight-boddorf.com/ Follow Dwight Boddorf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-boddorf/

  4. Sep 8

    The Mind Killers Veterans Face

    The uniform comes off, but the pressure can stay wired into your body, your habits, and the way you react to everyday life. This conversation touches on something many veterans know all too well: being trained to push through anything, only to realize that the same mindset can break down when the fight becomes internal. Chris Irwin shares how his path from Navy SEAL to nonprofit leader and mental fitness advocate forced him to confront survivor's guilt, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic illness, and the limits of chasing an outside fix. He also explains the work of the Navy SEAL Foundation, from family support and scholarships to transition help, physical health programs, and care for families of the fallen. The deeper pull of this episode is Chris's Rare Sense framework. He breaks down why mental toughness is valuable, but incomplete, and why awareness is the first real step toward changing the patterns that keep veterans stuck. For anyone who looks squared away on the outside while feeling off inside, this one offers a grounded place to begin. Timestamps: 00:08:15 - Rebuilding bodies after years of pain 00:22:36 - Why toughness alone stops working 00:29:42 - Panic rumination and missed warning signs 00:39:16 - The five mind killers veterans face 00:50:36 - Seven minutes to start training awareness Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://thischrisirwin.com Navy SEAL Foundation: https://navysealfoundation.org Follow Chris Irwin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thischrisirwin Follow Chris Irwin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thischrisirwin/

  5. Sep 1

    Stellate Ganglion Block For PTSD

    Post-traumatic stress can keep the body running at full speed long after the immediate danger has passed. Dr. Eugene Lipov describes how Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) may calm that response and reduce symptoms such as sleep problems, anxiety, hypervigilance, and a persistent feeling of doom. His interest in trauma treatment is deeply personal. His father lived with the effects of serving as a World War II pilot, and his mother later died by suicide after experiencing what he describes as secondary PTSD. That history shaped his work and his effort to have PTSD recognized as post-traumatic stress injury. This episode explains how SGB is performed, why Dr. Lipov believes calming the nervous system can make therapy more productive, and how traumatic memories may remain while losing some of their emotional intensity. Scott also shares why he wants to remember the experiences that shaped him without allowing them to control his daily interactions. Dr. Lipov discusses the origin of his book title The God Shot, the effects of trauma on spouses and children, realistic treatment limitations, potential side effects, and the importance of continued care. He also provides practical guidance for vetting SGB providers, evaluating procedure costs, and avoiding clinicians who use unsafe methods or pressure families into excessive payments. Timestamps: 00:00:30 - The Family Trauma Behind His Work 00:01:37 - SGB For Post-Traumatic Stress 00:12:56 - How The God Shot Got Its Name 00:19:33 - When A Combat Memory Lost Its Color 00:28:02 - How To Vet An SGB Provider Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.dreugenelipov.com Stella Mental Health: https://stellamentalhealth.com The God Shot Book: https://driveonpodcast.com/recommends/the-god-shot/ Follow Dr. Eugene Lipov on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dreugenelipov Its PTSI Website: https://itsptsi.com/

  6. Aug 25

    Perspectives on Afghanistan's Outcome

    Twenty years of war left many veterans with a range of reactions, including frustration, uncertainty, and unresolved questions. Retired Army officer Paul Darling offers his perspective based on a 27-year career, a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, work at the Pentagon, and his book Taliban Safari. He discusses how decisions are made about equipment, how budgets are managed, and why accountability at senior levels is often debated. The conversation covers topics such as the Stryker, F-35, A-10, and close air support, as well as Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, the collapse of Afghan forces, and the broader impact on those who served. Paul also talks about his involvement with War 102, the Tennessee State Guard, and Real Plastic Heroes as ways to stay engaged after retirement. Listeners will hear one perspective on how institutional incentives may influence outcomes, why reflection after conflict can be complex, and how veterans can explore different paths through service, education, and community. Timestamps: 00:05:02 - Reflections on Afghanistan's outcome 00:07:54 - Adjusting after combat experience 00:25:15 - Debates around senior-level accountability 00:38:14 - The final withdrawal and leadership decisions 00:45:47 - State guard involvement after service Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://war102.buzzsprout.com Follow Paul Darling on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-darling-aa06231bb/

  7. Aug 18

    Psychedelic Healing for Veteran Depression

    Broken after a career of service and out of answers, a retired Air Force officer stepped onto a path he never expected. Benjamin Forest shares the road from military success to treatment-resistant depression, a Veterans Day crisis, and a healing mission that forced him to face what years of service, family pressure, and survival mode had pushed deep inside. This episode speaks directly to veterans who have gone through therapy, tried medication, stayed busy, kept working, and still feel cut off from joy, connection, or purpose. Benjamin brings insight to the numbness many veterans know too well, including what he calls "emotional constipation", and he explains why the same ability to shut down fear in uniform can become toxic when it turns into a way of life. Listeners will come away with a grounded look at psychedelic medicine, the difference between healing and escaping, and the serious safety, legal, and medical considerations that need to come first. The episode also offers a practical path for veterans who are not ready for psychedelics, built around self-priority, connection, and making healing the mission long enough to show up better at home, at work, and in life. Timestamps: 00:02:36 - From the Pentagon to plant medicine 00:06:42 - Emotional constipation finally breaks open 00:12:40 - Medicine versus numbing out 00:26:38 - Safety, legal, and medical guardrails 00:40:36 - Making healing the mission Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.benjaminforest.com/ Follow Benjamin Forest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ben.forest.1 Follow Benjamin Forest on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjamin.forest.bliss/ Follow Benjamin Forest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-forest/

  8. Aug 11

    Dave Berke On Leadership After Service

    A fighter pilot's mindset meets the hard reality of life after the military. Dave Berke spent 23 years in the Marine Corps, flew fighters, taught at Top Gun, and now helps leaders through Echelon Front. His message hits especially hard for veterans trying to rebuild their sense of purpose, communicate better at work, stay present at home, and stop letting past failures define the next chapter. This conversation goes straight to the parts of transition that many veterans quietly wrestle with. The loss of a clear mission. The pull to go it alone. The habit of bringing military communication into civilian spaces, where it does not always land. The pressure of trying to lead at work while still being the husband, father, and friend your family needs. Dave breaks down how preparation, humility, ownership, detachment, and belief in your work can change the way you operate in every area of life. The real value here is practical. You will learn how to slow down when emotions run high, how to learn from failure without beating yourself up, how to find purpose beyond a paycheck, and how to lead in a way that strengthens the people around you. Timestamps: 00:04:06 - Top Gun lessons that still matter today 00:10:42 - The transition mistake that drains purpose 00:15:44 - Turning failure into usable direction 00:22:02 - Staying calm before pressure takes over 00:40:58 - Finding a mission after the military Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://echelonfront.com/instructors/dave-berke/ Follow Dave Berke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidrberke/ Follow Dave Berke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrberke/

    Dave Berke On Leadership After Service
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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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