The uniform can provide structure, status, belonging, and a clear sense of what comes next. But when military service ends, those familiar anchors can change all at once, leaving much bigger questions behind: Who am I now? Where do I belong? What gives my life meaning? In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Tina Wilston and Michelle Massunken sit down with Farid Yaghini, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, author, wellness coach, and founder and CEO of Camp Aftermath, for a thoughtful conversation about veteran transition, identity, purpose, and belonging. Born in Iran, Farid came to Canada as a child after his family fled religious persecution. He later joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2002 and served on deployments to Afghanistan. Farid reflects on how military service gave him a strong sense of community and purpose, and what it meant to begin rebuilding those parts of himself after leaving that environment. He also shares an idea that has shaped the way he thinks about difficult experiences: “flickers” — small, vivid moments that can stand out amid chaos and give the mind something meaningful to hold onto. That perspective connects closely with the work of Camp Aftermath, a Canadian charitable organization supporting veterans, serving military members, first responders, and frontline professionals as they navigate transition. Farid explains the program’s emphasis on identity, purpose, belonging, volunteerism, peer connection, and long-term continuity, as well as why ongoing follow-up matters after an intensive program ends. The conversation also explores friendship outside military life, connection after service, stoicism, and the difference between experiencing pain and adding unnecessary suffering to it. Farid discusses how Camp Aftermath continues to evolve its programming, including cohorts designed to better respond to the experiences of women veterans. Farid also shares the story behind his memoir, Life in Rotations: From Persecuted Iranian to Proud Canadian, which traces his journey from Iran to Canada, military service and Afghanistan, family life, transition, and the eventual creation of Camp Aftermath. This is a grounded conversation about what can happen when a role that once shaped nearly every part of your identity changes — and how purpose, community, contribution, and connection can become part of building what comes next. Who Is Farid Yaghini? Farid Yaghini is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, author, wellness coach, and founder and CEO of Camp Aftermath. He completed Humber College’s Wellness Coaching Ontario Graduate Certificate with honours in 2022. His work focuses on veteran transition, purpose, belonging, volunteerism, and creating meaningful connections beyond military service. Connect With Farid Yaghini Website: https://faridyaghini.com/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/farid-yaghini-a17079211 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F.Yaghini Camp Aftermath: https://campaftermath.org/ Learn more about Farid and his story through MindSpa Mental Health: https://themindspa.ca/meet-farid-yaghini-veteran-author-and-founder-of-camp-aftermath/ The MindSpa Podcast Thoughtful conversations about mental health, relationships, identity, healing, grounded in clinical expertise and steady human insight. Hosts Tina Wilston, M.Ed., Registered Psychotherapist Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinawilston/ https://www.instagram.com/tinawilstontherapy/ https://www.facebook.com/tinawilstontherapy/ Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW Co-Owner, MindSpa Mental Health Centre https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massunken-msw-rsw/ https://www.instagram.com/michellemassunken.therapy/ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMassunken/ MindSpa Mental Health Centre Ottawa - Kanata & Gloucester themindspa.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/themindspa/ https://www.instagram.com/themindspa.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/themindspa.ca/ Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube
