Achieng’s Trek Through Life

Soul Toucha
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Welcome to my podcast another extension of my poetic journey. Here I will offer another bridge to my poetic pieces that I have been writing, publishing, performing and hoarding since 1997. Make sure you tune in on an regular basis as I will be dropping on a random basis. My poetry covers many subjects that I have experienced throughout my life so be ready to experience the good, bad and ugly of life. Not only my life but life in general. Don't forget to follow me on all social media platforms.

  1. 1d ago

    My Military Journey Ep. 5 — Finding My Way Back Into Uniform

    My Military Journey continues. In Episode 4, I left active duty in 1995 convinced I was done with the Army. Then I came home to Maryland. At 22, I was trying to figure out civilian life, work, the VA—and honestly, I was making some pretty reckless decisions along the way. My first VA claim went nowhere, I bounced through jobs, got myself fired from one, and eventually met someone who convinced me to give the military another shot. In December 1997, I joined the Maryland Army National Guard. What followed were years of frustration, stalled promotions, missing guidance, a commander who changed the trajectory of my career, a second MOS, leadership school and finally making E-5 in 2003. And by the end of this episode... 00:00 — My Military Journey: Episode 501:13 — Questions From Episodes 1–4? Ask Me02:03 — Maybe This Is a Bonus Episode 😂02:50 — Back Home After Active Duty03:17 — I Wasn't Thinking About Going Back In03:36 — Trying to Figure Out the VA04:21 — Nobody Was Teaching Me How to File a Claim04:48 — My First VA Claim: NOTHING04:56 — Now I Needed a Job05:35 — 22 Years Old & HIGHLY Irresponsible 😂06:00 — Texas Tags, No Insurance & a Geo Prizm06:42 — Somebody Stole ALL My Clothes?!07:54 — Getting a Job at the GAP Warehouse09:01 — How I Got Myself FIRED 🤦🏾‍♂️10:08 — I Never Made THAT Mistake Again10:48 — Moving On to Procter & Gamble11:25 — Meeting the Guy Who Changed My Military Journey12:09 — He Talked Me Into the National Guard12:55 — Wait…What Happened to Horn & Horn?! 😂13:14 — December 1997: I'm BACK IN13:30 — Joining the 29th Infantry Division13:56 — And the Military Frustration Returns14:35 — No Chemical Slot for Me14:51 — Put Into the Ammo Section15:07 — But I Couldn't Get Sent to School16:14 — Years Go By…Still No Promotion17:00 — The “Good Old Boy” System & No Guidance18:05 — The Commander Who Changed Everything18:25 — I Was Thinking About Getting Out AGAIN18:52 — “I'm Going to Take Care of You.”19:05 — Why I Reenlisted19:50 — She Kept Her Word20:00 — My Second MOS: Transportation Management20:36 — Working AND Going to School Full Time21:18 — Leadership School & the Road to E-522:29 — Damn…I Went Through a LOT of Jobs 😂23:15 — Another Job, Another Frustration24:00 — Achilles Injuries & More Life Changes24:29 — Let's Fast Forward24:48 — 2003: I Finally Make E-525:11 — And Then Iraq Enters the Story…25:37 — We're Going to Stop Right Here25:55 — Episode 6 Is Going Into a New Era #MyMilitaryJourney #MilitaryJourney #USArmy #Army #ArmyNationalGuard #NationalGuard #MarylandNationalGuard #29thInfantryDivision #ArmyLife #MilitaryLife #ChemicalCorps #CBRN #ArmyStories #MilitaryStories #VeteranStories #MilitaryPodcast #ArmyPodcast #VeteranLife #MilitaryHistory #SoulToucha #360KingMedia

    My Military Journey Ep. 5 — Finding My Way Back Into Uniform

  2. 4d ago

    My Military Journey Ep. 4 — My Active Duty Years

    My Military Journey continues. I made it through training. Now it was time to actually be a soldier. In Episode 4, I pick up near the end of training and follow the journey to my first duty station at Fort Hood, Texas, where I joined the 68th Chemical Company and became a smoke generator operator—and eventually a driver. Part 4 But the story doesn't stop there. I eventually became fed up with Fort Hood and arranged a stateside swap to Fort Knox, Kentucky. Marriage, debt, rank problems, relationships and military life began piling up. An attempt to get out of training unexpectedly led to my first experience with therapy and the realization that I had things going on internally that I needed to address. Part 4 Part 4 By March 1995, I was headed back to Maryland. My active-duty chapter was over. But my military journey was far from finished. Chapter Markers 00:00 — My Military Journey: Episode 400:24 — Back at Fort McClellan00:30 — Let's Talk About Battle Buddies01:12 — “TOES ON LINE!”01:40 — They FLIPPED Our Bunks?! 😂02:10 — Putting Everything Back Together02:35 — My Other Battle Buddies03:05 — The Howard the Duck Joke 😂03:36 — Chemical Training Gets Serious03:48 — My First Helicopter Ride04:00 — Live Nerve Agent Chamber04:13 — Crawling Under LIVE FIRE04:40 — Road Marches & Those Damn Hills04:52 — I MADE IT THROUGH TRAINING!05:17 — Where Am I Going Next?05:40 — Germany? Korea? Johnston Island?06:00 — Please Don't Say Fort Hood…06:08 — Yep. FORT HOOD. 😂06:45 — Arriving at My First Duty Station07:13 — She Came to Texas…but I Never Saw Her07:26 — My First Older Woman Experience08:08 — She Acted Like She Didn't Know Me?! 😂08:17 — 68th Chemical Company08:36 — Welcome to the Smoke Platoon09:10 — How the Smoke Track Worked09:42 — I HATED Being Inside That Thing10:03 — Nobody Liked the Smoke Platoon 😂10:29 — “I Don't Like Getting My Hands Dirty”10:52 — Moving Up to Driver11:04 — Driving Around Fort Hood Was FUN11:21 — Fort Hood: 1992–199411:37 — I Was FED UP12:00 — What Was a Stateside Swap?12:18 — My Bright Idea: Fort Knox 🤦🏾‍♂️12:27 — Everything I Could Fit in a Geo Prizm12:54 — Arriving at Fort Knox13:05 — Wait…They're Sending Me to KOREA?!13:21 — I Didn't Want to Go13:49 — Signing the Statement14:00 — Becoming an NBC NCO14:23 — Then My Personal Life Got Complicated15:24 — Trouble, Debt & Getting Demoted16:17 — Running Into Someone From High School16:39 — The Trip to Mental Health That Changed Something17:36 — My First Time in Therapy18:09 — I Realized I Had Some Stuff Going On18:29 — Everything Was Compounding18:53 — “I'M DONE. I WANT OUT.”19:20 — Leaving With an Honorable Discharge19:45 — There's A LOT of Fort Knox I'm Skipping 😂20:14 — Want a Fort Knox Deep Dive?20:43 — Packing the Geo Prizm & Heading Home21:00 — My Active Duty Chapter Ends21:14 — The Military Journey Is NOT Over

    My Military Journey Ep. 4 — My Active Duty Years

  3. Sep 24

    My Military Journey Ep. 3 — Welcome to Basic Training

    My Military Journey continues. It's late November 1991. I'm 18 years old, headed from Maryland to Fort McClellan, Alabama, and I really don't know what to expect from Army basic training. Then the bus arrives. One minute the drill sergeant is talking normally. The next minute he's yelling for everybody to get off the bus—and all hell breaks loose. 😂 In Episode 3, I look back at those first days at Fort McClellan, in-processing, learning basic soldier skills, Christmas leave, an unexpected family revelation, relationships during training, and some memories that still stand out more than 30 years later. This is My Military Journey — Episode 3: Welcome to Basic Training.

    My Military Journey Ep. 3 — Welcome to Basic Training

  4. Sep 20

    My Military Journey Ep. 2 — How I Ended Up in the Army

    Before there were deployments, uniforms, awards, or 30+ years of military service, there was an 18-year-old walking around Miami trying to figure out what the hell he was going to do with his life. I had no car, no license, no job, no money, and no real transportation. Then one day, while walking miles looking for work, I saw a military recruiting station. The funny part? Then the Army recruiter came outside. Next thing I knew, I was choosing an MOS and preparing to leave for Fort McClellan, Alabama. This is My Military Journey — Episode 2: How It All Started. I was headed to the AIR FORCE recruiter. #MyMilitaryJourney #MilitaryJourney #USArmy #Army #ArmyLife #MilitaryLife #ArmyStories #MilitaryStories #ArmyRecruiter #AirForce #FortMcClellan #ArmyBasicTraining #ChemicalCorps #CBRN #MilitaryBrat #VeteranStories #MilitaryPodcast #ArmyPodcast #MilitaryHistory #SoulToucha #360KingMedia 🇺🇸 MY MILITARY JOURNEY — EPISODE 2 Here's the crazy part about a military journey that eventually lasted 30+ years: I was headed toward the Air Force recruiter when an Army recruiter saw me and basically said: “Nah…come over here.” That conversation changed the direction of my life. 👇🏾 Episode 3 takes us to Fort McClellan in 1991. What do you want to hear about from that part of the journey? I WAS GOING TO THE AIR FORCE. 😂

    My Military Journey Ep. 2 — How I Ended Up in the Army

  5. Sep 20

    My Military Journey Ep. 1 — After 30+ Years, Is It Time to Hang It Up?

    From joining the Army to active duty, the National Guard, deployment, the Air National Guard, and the road toward one final decision. After more than 30 years of military service, I'm reaching a point I knew would eventually come: Before I make that final decision, I want to document the journey that brought me here—from why I joined the Army, to active duty, the National Guard, deployment, a transition to the Air National Guard, back to the Army Guard, and everything that happened along the way. This is Episode 1 of My Military Journey—the beginning of the story, told as best as I remember it. Is it time to hang up the uniform? Before I make that final decision, I want to document the journey that brought me here—from why I joined the Army, to active duty, the National Guard, deployment, a transition to the Air National Guard, back to the Army Guard, and everything that happened along the way. This is Episode 1 of My Military Journey—the beginning of the story, told as best as I remember it. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Looking at This Uniform Differently00:25 – How Many Times Have I Actually Worn This?00:50 – 30 Years of Service…And My Uniform Isn't Updated 😂01:24 – This Uniform Is Reaching the End01:44 – I Think It's Time to Hang It Up02:27 – My Body Already Made Its Decision03:11 – I'm Taking You Through My Military Journey03:39 – What Made Me Join the Army?03:46 – Active Duty → National Guard04:00 – Deployment, Air National Guard & Back Again04:30 – Why I Want to Document This Story05:28 – I Originally Wanted to Write It06:08 – The Pictures & Footage I Wish I Had06:49 – Maryland Snowstorms, Humvees & First Responders07:40 – I Want to Take Y'all on This Journey07:59 – I Think It's Time08:06 – It's Been a Long, Good Ride08:23 – Turning It Over to the Next Generation08:44 – Going Out on a Good Note09:42 – Dress Blues: The End of an Era09:57 – Some Run Out. Some Hold On.10:29 – Some Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice10:59 – Sometimes You Have to Know When It's Time11:31 – Remember Shining Boots? 😂12:27 – Why This Decision Isn't Easy12:58 – When the Military Has Been Part of Your Life This Long13:29 – When Your Body Starts Talking, You Listen14:15 – We're Taking a Trip Through My Military Life14:53 – This Is Episode 115:01 – What Do YOU Want Me to Talk About Next? #MyMilitaryJourney #MilitaryJourney #Army #USArmy #ArmyNationalGuard #NationalGuard #AirNationalGuard #MilitaryLife #MilitaryCareer #MilitaryRetirement #ArmyLife #MilitaryStories #VeteranStories #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranPodcast #MilitaryHistory #MilitaryService #Deployment #PassingTheTorch #EndOfAnEra #SoulToucha #360KingMedia

    My Military Journey Ep. 1 — After 30+ Years, Is It Time to Hang It Up?

  6. Mar 17

    After 50: The Honest Conversation You Have With Yourself at 4AM

    Sometimes the most honest conversations we ever have… are the ones we have with ourselves at 4AM. In this late-night reflection, I found myself sitting at my computer thinking about life, age, purpose, and the reality of moving forward after decades of service and experience. After over 30 years connected to the military, finishing my bachelor’s degree at 52 years old, and spending 13 years at the same rank, I started asking myself some real questions: • When is it time to move on?• When do we accept reality versus chasing expectations?• How do you know when you’ve done your part? This isn’t a pity party.This isn’t a cry for help. This is just one of those honest 4AM conversations with yourself that happens when the world is quiet and your mind starts reflecting. If you've ever been awake in the middle of the night thinking about life, purpose, aging, and the next chapter… this conversation might resonate with you. Welcome to the real thoughts that come at 4AM.

  7. Jan 31

    My Greatest Accomplishment: 300 Episodes and a Life of Intent

    In this episode of the Trek Through Poetry Podcast, I’m sharing my vision for 2026: a commitment to create and publish over 300 podcast episodes. I reflection the power of setting goals in the present tense and the importance of moving with intention across all areas of life—from my YouTube channel and social media to my Master’s degree in Strategic Communications and my 31-year military career. Key Highlights: The 300-Episode Challenge: My plan to maximize my time and hit a major milestone in 2026. Overcoming Fear: A candid look at my journey from being terrified of public speaking to briefing thousands of people in my role as an emergency management coordinator. Life as a Published Author: The inspiration behind my books, Taste My Poetry, Taste My Soul, Ballads of a Poetier, and The Book of King: Thoughts, Quotes & Invocations. Intentional Growth: Using existing strengths to overcome shyness and push through life's resistence.Connect With Me Soul Toucha the Poet YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@soultouchathepoetThe King & Eye Life Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1MzTaLeM3eAGkDIHpGTggB?si=Y6k4nTSOQxKWTUrKpMC4JgThirty Years In.. Raised on Rations Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6udlibsn4mDmiRypvsrwLQ?si=WgreNsSDQ8-snYVHW7lJ0QConnect With Miniimah ·      The Magic of 5 Minutes https://linktr.ee/mpowerucoaching

  8. 12/25/2025

    Veterans Care International Wellness Tour: Punta Cana Medical Retreat Experience

    I just returned from a 7-day Veterans Medical Tour in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, hosted by Veterans Care International (VCI). In this unfiltered and unscripted episode, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about the experience—from the medical appointments and therapeutic treatments to the excursions and investment opportunities. Whether you’re dealing with service-connected disabilities or just looking for a wellness reset, I share my personal journey with chiropractic care, acupuncture, and more. In this video, I cover: How to qualify and what paperwork you need (like your disability breakdown letter). What the medical treatments are actually like (Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage, etc.). The "Reset Circles" for men and women. The cost, travel requirements, and what to expect from the accommodations. Investment opportunities at Legacy Heights with Boardwalk Developments. Links Mentioned: Website: VeteransInternational.com Join the weekly webinar: Every Tuesday (Details on the website) #VeteransWellness #VeteranLife #VeteransHealth #WellnessRetreat #MedicalTourism #DominicanRepublic #PuntaCana #HealingJourney #VeteransCare #HolisticHealing #WellnessTravel #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicPainRelief #TravelVlog #PodcastEpisode #RealTalk #Unfiltered #SoulTouchaThePoet

    Veterans Care International Wellness Tour: Punta Cana Medical Retreat Experience
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About

Welcome to my podcast another extension of my poetic journey. Here I will offer another bridge to my poetic pieces that I have been writing, publishing, performing and hoarding since 1997. Make sure you tune in on an regular basis as I will be dropping on a random basis. My poetry covers many subjects that I have experienced throughout my life so be ready to experience the good, bad and ugly of life. Not only my life but life in general. Don't forget to follow me on all social media platforms.

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